“When I consider everything that grows” is the opening line of Sonnet 15, also known as Sonnet 15 from “Sonnets to the Young Man,” written by William Shakespeare. The sonnet is part of a collection of 154 sonnets attributed to Shakespeare, exploring themes of love, time, and the transient nature of life.
The speaker of the sonnet begins by lamenting the passage of time and the transient nature of all living things. Recognising that everything that grows eventually withers and fades away, the speaker muses on the cycle of life. This includes both people and their accomplishments as well as aspects of nature like flowers, trees, and the changing of the seasons.
By focusing on the idea of time’s destructive power, the speaker highlights the fleeting nature of life. All things eventually lose their beauty and vitality because time is a “ruthless devourer,” as the proverbial saying goes. Even the most magnificent creations, such as statues and monuments, succumb to the passage of time and lose their glory, as the speaker illustrates with vivid imagery.
However, the speaker finds comfort in the power of poetry despite the inevitable deterioration and destruction brought on by time. The speaker holds that it is possible to defy time and maintain a sense of permanence through verse and the act of immortalising beauty in words. The poem itself ends up serving as a testament to the art’s enduring influence and capacity to transcend death.
The beloved young people to whom the sonnets are dedicated are addressed by the speaker in the sonnet’s final lines. The young person is urged by the speaker to reproduce so that future generations can inherit his beauty and virtues. The youth can achieve a semblance of immortality and resist the effects of time by doing this.
Overall, “When I consider everything that grows” is a contemplation on the transience of life, the power of time, and the role of poetry in preserving beauty and creating a sense of permanence. It explores the themes of mortality, the passing of time, and the enduring legacy of art.
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