Sonnet 28: When day's oppression isn't eased by night

How can I then return in happy plight, That am debarred the benefit of rest? When day's oppression is not eased by night, But day by night, and night by day, oppressed? And each, though enemies to either's reign, Do in consent shake hands to torture me; The one by toil, the other to complain How far I toil, still farther off from thee. I tell the day, to please him thou art bright And dost him grace when clouds do blot the heaven: So flatter I the swart-complexioned night, When sparkling stars twire not thou gild'st the even. But day doth daily draw my sorrows longer And night doth nightly make grief's strength seem stronger.

William Shakespeare

Sonnet 28: When day's oppression isn't eased by night

October 2012


About this painting on my "Sonnets in colour" blog

And here is a description of my longer engagement with irises that led to this painting on my Studio blog