How to Write About Poetry

Consider the first clause in the first line: ‘Tis true, ‘tis day. Now rewrite it in contemporary colloquial American English.

[Make sure you understand the meaning of the contractions.]

Consider the second clause in the first line: what though it be? Do the same.

Oh, wilt thou therefore rise from me?

Why should we rise because ‘tis light?

Did we lie down because ‘twas night?

Love which in spite of darkness brought us hither
Should, in despite of light, keep us together.

Light hath no tongue, but is all eye

[This line and the next two present a difficult set of metonymies.]

If it could speak as well as spy,
This were the worst that it could say:

[Be sure you know what noun is the antecedent of the pronoun “it.”]

That, being well, I fain would stay,

[The word “That” in this context means “if” as it does in the next line.]

And that I loved my heart and honor so,
That I would not from him that had them go.

Must business thee from hence remove?

[Note that you have to deal with inversion here.]

Oh, that’s the worst disease of love;

The poor, the foul, the false, love can
Admit, but not the busied man.

[Note that you have to deal with inversion here.]

He which hath business and makes love, doth do
Such wrong as when a married man doth woo.

[Be sure you handle the simile by rendering into literal language.]