Sonnet XXVII

Weary with toil, I haste me to my bed,
The dear repose for limbs with travel tired;
But then begins a journey in my head,
To work my mind, when body's work's expired:
For then my thoughts, from far where I abide,
Intend a zealous pilgrimage to thee,
And keep my drooping eyelids open wide,
Looking on darkness which the blind do see
Save that my soul's imaginary sight
Presents thy shadow to my sightless view,
Which, like a jewel hung in ghastly night,
Makes black night beauteous and her old face new.
Lo! thus, by day my limbs, by night my mind,
For thee and for myself no quiet find.

    What Shakespeare says in this poem is that at the end of every day he lies down on his bed with weary limbs and once he stops walking and lies down, he thinks of this person (a handsome man). Shakespeare says “Lo! Thus, by day my limbs, by night my mind, for thee and for myself no quiet find” which means that during the day his limbs do work and at night his mind is working and it never stops because of this person. So the last two lines basically tell you what Shakespeare is meaning to say throughout this poem.

Literally translated into today’s words you could say: Weary and tired, I hurry to my bed, The haven for tired limbs. But then a journey begins in my head, to work my mind when my body’s work is finished. Because then my thoughts are far from where I am right now, Thinking passionately about you. And to keep my tired eyes open, looking at darkness, just as the blind do. Except that my imagination forces me to think of you. It is your image that hangs like a jewel in the night, which makes the night look beautiful, changing it from old and ugly to new and beautiful. Look for this is all your fault, during the day my limbs do work and at night my mind is working and it never rests because of you.