THE SONNETS by William Shakespeare (73)

 LXXIII

    That time of year thou mayst in me behold¹ When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang Upon those boughs² which shake against the cold, Bare ruin'd choirs³, where late the sweet birds sang. In me thou see'st the twilight⁴ of such day As after sunset fadeth in the west； Which by and by black night doth take away, Death's second self, that seals up all in rest. In me thou see'st the glowing of such fire, That on the ashes of his youth doth lie, As the death-bed, whereon it must expire, Consum'd with that which it was nourish'd by. This thou perceiv'st, which makes thy love more strong, To love that well, which thou must leave ere long.