Sonnet 85

My tongue-tied Muse in manners holds her still,

While comments of your praise, richly compiled,

Reserve their character with golden quill

And precious phrase by all the Muses filed.

I think good thoughts, whilst other write good words,

And like unletter’d clerk still cry ‘Amen’

To every hymn that able spirit affords

In polish’d form of well-refinèd pen.

Hearing you praised, I say ‘’Tis so, ’tis true,’

And to the most of praise add something more,

But that is in my thought, whose love to you,

Though words come hindmost, holds his rank before.

Then others for the breath of words respect;

Me for my dumb thoughts, speaking in effect.

My tongue is hesitant, almost afraid

To speak. Others speak in the strongest

Currency, confident, calculated,

And culture does the rest.

I think good thoughts, but others speak

In word and form and gesture.

I’m like a student. I admire their work

Like something I could never master.

When they say something of you, I smile

And nod and add myself to the show,

But something stays in my heart, all the while—

Not in words, so that none may know.

Be in awe of their stratagems, but also circumspect—

In awe of my dumbness too, which speaks—if only in effect.