That time of year thou mayst in me behold
When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang
Upon those boughs which shake against the cold,
Bare ruin'd choirs, where late the sweet birds sang.
In me thou see'st the twilight of such day
As after sunset fadeth in the west;
Which by and by black night doth take away,
Death's second self, that seals up all in rest.
In me thou see'st the glowing of such fire,
That on the ashes of his youth doth lie,
As the death-bed, whereon it must expire,
Consum'd with that which it was nourish'd by.
This thou perceiv'st, which makes thy love more strong,
To love that well, which thou must leave ere long.
-What reasons does the speaker give the lover to leave him?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The speaker tells the lover he must leave because the speaker is growing older, is in the last stage of his life, and will soon die. He compares his life to autumn, to twilight, and to a dying fire. All of these comparisons indicate an ending or transition. These comparisons lead to the final thought that the lover must leave before long.

That Time of Year Thou Mayst in Me Behold