PoemSonnet 146: “Poor soul, the centre of my…
Author / PoetWilliam Shakespeare
ReferenceSonnet: Form: ababcdcdefefgg
TagsMorality, Reflection, Self, Sonnet

Poor soul, the centre of my sinful earth,
[……] these rebel powers that thee array,
Why dost thou pine within and suffer dearth,
Painting thy outward walls so costly gay?
Why so large cost, having so short a lease,
Dost thou upon thy fading mansion spend?
Shall worms, inheritors of this excess,
Eat up thy charge? Is this thy body’s end?
Then soul, live thou upon thy servant’s loss
And let that pine to aggravate thy store;
Buy terms divine in selling hours of dross;
Within be fed, without be rich no more.
So shalt thou feed on Death, that feeds on men,
And, Death once dead, there’s no more dying then.

William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
23 Apr 1564 - 23 Apr 1616
Region: Northern Europe
Period: Renaissance
Movement: English Renaissance

more poems by William Shakespeare

Poem NameTopic
Sonnet 94: “They that have power to hurt…Power, Restraint, Sonnet
Sonnet 73: “That time of year…Aging, Reflection, Seasons
The Procreation Sonnets (1 – 17)Beauty, Immortality, Legacy
Sonnet 29: ‘When, in disgrace with fortune…Despair, Fortune, Love
Sonnet 130: ‘My mistress’ eyes are nothing…Beauty, Comparison, Love
The Dark Lady Sonnets (127 – 154)Desire, Infidelity, Mystery
Sonnet 112: “Your love and pity…Betrayal, Love, Loyalty
Sonnet 116: ‘Let me not to the marriage…Constancy, Love, Marriage
Sonnet 110: “Alas, ’tis true I have gone…Betrayal, Guilt, Redemption
Sonnet 111: “O, for my sake do you…

all poems by William Shakespeare

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