Poem A Day

Classic poem

Sonnet 149: Canst thou, O cruel! say I love thee not

by William Shakespeare

Canst thou, O cruel! say I love thee not,

When I against myself with thee partake?

Do I not think on thee, when I forgot

Am of my self, all tyrant, for thy sake?

Who hateth thee that I do call my friend,

On whom frown'st thou that I do fawn upon,

Nay, if thou lour'st on me, do I not spend

Revenge upon myself with present moan?

What merit do I in my self respect,

That is so proud thy service to despise,

When all my best doth worship thy defect,

Commanded by the motion of thine eyes?

But, love, hate on, for now I know thy mind;

Those that can see thou lov'st, and I am blind.

loveidentitytimesea
Public domain/Source

About this poem

First line
Canst thou, O cruel! say I love thee not,
Poet
William Shakespeare
Themes
love, identity, time, sea

Poem A Day

Save this poem in the app.

Favorite it in the app and get tomorrow's classic poem.