William Shakespeare(1564–1616)
Sonnet 65
Since brass, nor4 stone, nor earth, nor boundless sea
But sad mortality o'er-sways their power,
How with this rage shall beauty hold a plea,destructive power
Whose action is no stronger than a flower
O, how shall summer's honey breath hold out
Against the wrackfuP siege of batt'ring days,destructive
When rocks impregnable are not so stout,
Nor gates of steel so strong, but time decays
O fearful meditation! where, alack,alas
Shall time's best jewel from time's chest lie hid
Or what strong hand can hold his swift foot back
Or who his spoil of beauty5 can forbid
O, none, unless this miracle have might,
That in black ink my love may still shine bright.