Amoretti, Sonnet 75

When thinking of my highschool years, many happy memories bring me to smiles. One of my favorite memories was that of English class, specifically the part where we discussed English literature. We spent hours studying poetry and discussing novels. One of my favorite poems back then was that of Edmund Spencer: Sonnet 75 of his Amoretti which is believed to be written in 1598 for his second wife, the Irish Elizabeth Boyle.  The man wrote the sonnet with the means to immortalize his love, seeing as though the writings on the sand reminded him of our mortality. Needles to say I am a romantic at heart, but luckily my cynical side keeps everything out of the clouds.  However, I don’t spot anything sour when reading this piece. Spencer was a man with a mission. Seeing as though you and I and millions of others are reading this, I would say it was a mission accomplished.  They both live on by fame.  

One day I wrote her name upon the strand,

But came the waves and washed it away: 

Again I wrote it with a second hand,

But came the tide, and made my pains his prey.

Vain man, said she, that doest in vain assay 

A mortal thing so to immortalize,

For I myself shall like to this decay,

And eek my name be wiped out likewise.

Not so (quoth I), let baser things devise

To die in dust, but you shall live by fame:

My verse your virtues rare shall eternize,

And in the heavens write your glorious name.

Where whenas Death shall all the world subdue,

Our love shall live, and later life renew.