1. When I consider every thing that grows
2. Holds in perfection but a little moment.
3. That this huge stage presenteth nought but shows
4. Whereon the stars in secret influence comment.
5. When I perceive that men as plants increase,
6. Cheered and check'd even by the self-same sky:
7. Vaunt in their youthful sap, at height decrease,
8. And wear their brave state out of memory.
9. Then the conceit of this inconstant stay,
10. Sets you most rich in youth before my sight,
11. Where wasteful Time debateth with decay,
12. To change your day of youth to sullied night,
13. And all in war with Time for love of you,
14. As he takes from you, I engraft you new.
I Engraft You New
Dedication: To Elizabeth
Explaining to Elizabeth his thoughts about how deceptive things can be as presented here on earth compared to what is ordained in the stars. Then explains his theory about how men grow (presumably more than physically) as plants against the same sky where that shows the stars. And as plants grow and wither and die and are forgotten. But he reminds her that there is a renewing sight for her before him. And he explains that this renewal is in the same metaphor of plants an engrafting on her as time attempts to whittle her away.
1st Quatrain: (1-4)
A subtle reference to Henry in lines 1 and 2. A comment on the emptiness of life and the conspiring forces that shape it in lines 3 and 4. This whole quatrain contains a subtle allusion to his despair as a result of the waste of Henry.
2nd Quatrain: (5-8)
Contrasting how people when viewed through the metaphor of plants increase and are constrained by the sun and vainly display there beauty at youth only to be unremembered soon after.
3rd Quatrain: (9-12)
Continuing on to tell her she however is enriched in youth metaphorically (though in actuality old)even as Time takes its toll on her. The "debateth" in line 11 a subtle reference to Elizabeth's own internal struggle to recognize Henry. That time will very quickly change her “day of youth to sullied night” in line 12.
couplet (13-14),
Entreating her that as Time steals away her youth, Oxford gives it back through Henry.
Commentary:
More than merely waxing poetic on natural processes, this sonnet is very much part of Oxford’s attempt to convince Elizabeth to recognize Henry as a better course for her legacy. Oxford has made many illusions to grow in these sonnets as reminders of Henry’s growth, however now it is not the growth that is the essence of this sonnet but that there is a growth that is ready to be engrafted onto Elizabeth as the couplet says. And this is a clear reference to the poet being involved in the “procreation” which would not be possible for an orthodox interpretation. Though the word engraft as well should also reveal that there is an existing way of adding to his subject. Traditional interpretation can't make any sense of how the poet is responsible for the reproduction.