Sonnet 13. Letters and lines, we see are soon defaced

Michael Drayton (1563–1631)

[First printed in 1594 (No. 21), and in all later editions.]

To the Shadow

LETTERS and lines, we see are soon defaced.

Metals do waste and fret with canker’s rust.

The diamond shall once consume to dust;

And freshest colours, with foul stains disgraced.

Paper and ink can paint but naked words.

To write with blood, of force offends the sight.

And if with tears, I find them all too light:

And sighs and signs, a silly hope afford:

O sweetest Shadow, how thou serv’st my turn!

Which still shalt be, as long as there is sun,

Nor whilst the world is, never shall be done;

Whilst moon shall shine, or any fire shall burn:

That everything whence shadow doth proceed,

May in his shadow, my Love’s story read.