Sonnet 56

Sweet love, renew thy force; be it not said

Thy edge should blunter be than appetite,

Which but today by feeding is allay’d,

Tomorrow sharpen’d in his former might.

So love be thou: although today thou fill

Thy hungry eyes even till they wink with fullness,

Tomorrow see again, and do not kill

The spirit of love with a perpetual dullness.

Let this sad int’rim like the ocean be,

Which parts the shore where two, contracted new,

Come daily to the banks, that, when they see

Return of love, more blest may be the view.

Else call it winter, which being full of care,

Makes summer’s welcome thrice more wish’d, more rare.

Love, revive daily, just like the sun.

Hunger and passion do not mean lust.

Let pleasure satisfied today begin

To resurface as soon as you rest.

This should be you: though your eyes be filled

Tonight beyond words with ecstasy of joy,

Tomorrow, let it all be again repealed;

Start over with a heart just as yearning and empty.

Each day let there be an ocean to overcome,

A shore to reach,

An island to return from

And another merciful beach.

Better yet, let the lull be like winter, so intense

It requires three seasons of recompense.