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Shakespeare's Sonnets - Sonnet 128
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Last updated: Fri, Jul 31, 2015
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Shakespeare's Sonnets - Sonnet 128Sonnet 128
128
Synopsis:
This sonnet uses the conventional poetic idea of the poet envying an object being touched by the beloved. Here, the object is the keyboard of an instrument.
How oft, when thou, my music, music play’st
Upon that blessèd wood whose motion sounds
With thy sweet fingers when thou gently sway’st
4The wiry concord that mine ear confounds,
Do I envy those jacks that nimble leap
To kiss the tender inward of thy hand,
Whilst my poor lips, which should that harvest reap,
8At the wood’s boldness by thee blushing stand.
To be so tickled they would change their state
And situation with those dancing chips,
O’er whom ⌜thy⌝ fingers walk with gentle gait,
12Making dead wood more blest than living lips.
Since saucy jacks so happy are in this,
Give them ⌜thy⌝ fingers, me thy lips to kiss.