"Sonnet 75" by Edmund Spenser is a Shakespearean sonnet that reflects on the fleeting nature of time and the impact it has on the speaker's life. The sonnet is structured in the traditional Shakespearean form, with 14 lines and a rhyme scheme of abab cdcd efef gg.
The sonnet begins with the speaker addressing Time, personifying it as a cruel and unyielding force. The speaker laments that Time is always moving forward and never stops, leaving the past behind and taking with it all the joys and pleasures of youth. The speaker then compares Time to a "bald, naked, forked animal" that devours everything in its path, leaving nothing but "ashes" in its wake.
In the second quatrain, the speaker reflects on the impact of Time on their own life, specifically on their love and beauty. They lament that Time has robbed them of their youth and beauty, and has left them "wrinkled, old, and gray." The speaker also reflects on the fleeting nature of love, stating that it is "fond and false" and that it "flees away like smoke."
In the final sestet, the speaker turns to the idea of eternal life and the hope that it brings. They argue that, while Time may take away everything else, it cannot touch the eternal soul. The speaker then concludes by imploring the reader to "think on death" and to consider their own mortality, as a way of living a more meaningful and fulfilling life.
Overall, "Sonnet 75" is a thought-provoking reflection on the fleeting nature of time and its impact on the human experience. The speaker laments the loss of youth, beauty, and love, but ultimately finds hope in the concept of eternal life. The sonnet serves as a reminder to appreciate the present moment and to make the most of our time on earth.