SONNET 61

SONNET 61

Is it thy will thy image should keep open
My heavy eyelids to the weary night?
Dost thou desire my slumbers should be broken,
While shadows like to thee do mock my sight?

Is it thy spirit that thou send'st from thee
So far from home into my deeds to pry,
To find out shames and idle hours in me,
The scope and tenor of thy jealousy?
O, no! thy love, though much, is not so great:
It is my love that keeps mine eye awake;
Mine own true love that doth my rest defeat,
To play the watchman ever for thy sake:
   For thee watch I whilst thou dost wake elsewhere,
   From me far off, with others all too near. 

SONNET 61	PARAPHRASE
Is it thy will thy image should keep open	Is it because you will it to be so that your image keeps open
My heavy eyelids to the weary night?	My sleepy eyes at night?
Dost thou desire my slumbers should be broken,	Do you really want my sleep to be interrupted,
While shadows like to thee do mock my sight?	While shadows of you taunt me?
Is it thy spirit that thou send'st from thee	Do you send your spirit to me from wherever you are
So far from home into my deeds to pry,	To watch all that I do,
To find out shames and idle hours in me,	To find out how I spend my time; to see if I am doing something you don't like?
The scope and tenor of thy jealousy?	Is this how jealous you really are?
O, no! thy love, though much, is not so great:	But no! Your love may be strong, but it is not that great:
It is my love that keeps mine eye awake;	It is my own love for you that keeps me awake at night,
Mine own true love that doth my rest defeat,	My own true love that watches all that I do (keeps me out of trouble)
To play the watchman ever for thy sake:	For your sake.
For thee watch I whilst thou dost wake elsewhere,	For you alone I watch, while you are waking somewhere far away,
From me far off, with others all too near.	You are far from me, while others are too near.