William Shakespeare. 1564–1616

Sonnet LXXV.

“So are you to my thoughts as food to life”


SO are you to my thoughts as food to life  
Or as sweet-season’d showers are to the ground;  
And for the peace of you I hold such strife  
As ’twixt a miser and his wealth is found;  
Now proud as an enjoyer, and anon    5
Doubting the filching age will steal his treasure;  
Now counting best to be with you alone,  
Then better’d that the world may see my pleasure:  
Sometime, all full with feasting on your sight,  
And by and by clean starved for a look;   10
Possessing or pursuing no delight,  
Save what is had or must from you be took.  
  Thus do I pine and surfeit day by day,  
  Or gluttoning on all, or all away.