Sonnet 113 by William Shakespeare

Written around 1603. The sonnets were not written in the order in which we know them. They were written between the 1580s and 1603 and put together in the order in which we now know them in 1609 because there were no public theatre performances at that time due to an outbreak of the plague.

Since I left you mine eye is in my mind,
And that which governs me to go about
Doth part his function, and is partly blind,
Seems seeing, but effectually is out;
For it no form delivers to the heart
Of bird, of flower, or shape which it doth latch.
Of his quick objects hath the mind no part,
Nor his own vision holds what it doth catch;
For if it see the rud’st or gentlest sight,
The most sweet favour or deformèd’st creature,
The mountain or the sea, the day or night,
The crow or dove, it shapes them to your feature.
Incapable of more, replete with you,
My most true mind thus makes mine eye untrue.

If you like what you hear, please consider buying me a coffee.

Thank you! 🙏🏻