Sonnet notes 11

Sonnet 32, line 7: “These poor rude lines of thy deceased lover”

Once again, the poet deprecates his own poetry. “I may be a lousy poet,” he says, “but I love you.” This is enough reason, he argues, for the Young Man to keep his verses, as a memento of one who loved him truly. After three sonnets declaring a profound love for the Young Man, this sonnet humbly asks not for love in return, nor for praise. It asks only for the poet’s love to be remembered. Previous sonnets have promised to immortalize the Young Man and his beauty. This is more personal. Sonnet 32 has as much claim as Sonnet 18 to live on as long as men can breathe and eyes can see, but that’s not the point anymore. The focus has narrowed. Perhaps the Young Man has no concern about his eternal fame. He may have had countless poems written about him, portraits painted, statues erected even! What’s another poem to him? But has anyone loved him, the poet asks? “I have,” he says. “Remember that when you read my poor rude lines after I am dead and gone.” Will he miss him?