sonnet 130

This is one of his more famous ones. It’s rather ironic in that Shakespeare is pointing out the flaws in his lover," My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun". In Shakespeare's time the word mistress could be interpreted as my darling or sweetie pie. In any case, most of the poem is spent comparing his love to things that she just can't measure up to. Apparently his love, at least in appearance, is pretty substandard. Her lips, breast, hair, breath and complexion are all pretty much trashed. Just when you think this girl comes from an Elizabethan ugly factory, Shakespeare changes his tune," I grant I never saw a goddess go;

My mistress when she walks treads on the ground." Yup, now she is a goddess. Shakespeare has tricked us! He explains that his mistress doesn't need the trappings of insincere flowery words to be beautiful and loved by him, "And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare...As any she belied with false compare." Her beauty needs no clichéd descriptions. Oh, that Shakespeare was such a sweet guy!