Shakespeare's 2nd Sonnet (Hardcore Analysis) (Patreon)

Shakespeare's second sonnet has long been considered controversial. It's also a solid favourite of many readers. But does the sonnet lose its controversy if one knows it's addressed to a man and not a woman?

Sonnet II

When forty winters shall besiege thy brow,
And dig deep trenches in thy beauty's field,
Thy youth's proud livery so gazed on now,
Will be a totter'd weed of small worth held:
Then being asked, where all thy beauty lies,
Where all the treasure of thy lusty days;
To say, within thine own deep sunken eyes,
Were an all-eating shame, and thriftless praise.
How much more praise deserv'd thy beauty's use,
If thou couldst answer 'This fair child of mine
Shall sum my count, and make my old excuse,'
Proving his beauty by succession thine!
This were to be new made when thou art old,
And see thy blood warm when thou feel'st it cold.

As always, any thoughts you might have on this sonnet would be warmly appreciated.

Most important of all - do you like it?

Happy sonneteering!