Sonnet 43

When most I wink, then do mine eyes best see,

For all the day they view things unrespected;

But when I sleep, in dreams they look on thee,

And darkly bright are bright in dark directed.

Then thou, whose shadow shadows doth make bright,

How would thy shadow’s form form happy show

To the clear day with thy much clearer light,

When to unseeing eyes thy shade shines so?

How would, I say, mine eyes be blessèd made

By looking on thee in the living day,

When in dead night thy fair imperfect shade

Through heavy sleep on sightless eyes doth stay:

All days are nights to see till I see thee,

And nights bright days when dreams do show thee me.

When I close my eyes, I see best.

The daylight is too busy a scene.

My eyes are let to focus on you when they rest,

On the bright in the dark in between.

Imaginations, you make real.

Fantasies, you make bright.

And I wonder why our dreams conceal

Their presence in daylight.

It would bless my eyes to dream you in the day

Just as much as when I see you at night,

But still my greatest visions stay

On the other side of light.

So days are night to me, dark as sea,

While nights, sky-blue, are bright with revery.