Poem A Day

Classic poem

Sonnet 87: Farewell! thou art too dear for my possessing

by William Shakespeare

Farewell! thou art too dear for my possessing,

And like enough thou know'st thy estimate,

The charter of thy worth gives thee releasing;

My bonds in thee are all determinate.

For how do I hold thee but by thy granting?

And for that riches where is my deserving?

The cause of this fair gift in me is wanting,

And so my patent back again is swerving.

Thy self thou gav'st, thy own worth then not knowing,

Or me to whom thou gav'st it, else mistaking;

So thy great gift, upon misprision growing,

Comes home again, on better judgement making.

Thus have I had thee, as a dream doth flatter,

In sleep a king, but waking no such matter.

lovebeautyhopeidentitytimenight
Public domain/Source

About this poem

First line
Farewell! thou art too dear for my possessing,
Poet
William Shakespeare
Themes
love, beauty, hope, identity

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