In Shakespeare’s Sonnet 43, the speaker insists his eyes see best when they’re closed. By day he looks at countless things without true interest, but once he sleeps, his dreams fix on the beloved with a dark brightness—a shadow so vivid it outshines the night. He addresses the beloved directly, wondering how dazzling the living person would be in clear daylight if even this imperfect dream-image gleams so. Until that meeting, every waking hour feels like a long, sightless night; only dreams turn night into brilliant day by bringing the beloved near. The mood is tender, solitary, and quietly dazzled. There’s a loneliness that only sleep can mend, yet the poem doesn’t feel despairing. It holds a private wonder, as if the speaker has discovered a secret door into light while his eyes are shut.
Sonnet 43: When most I wink, then do mine eyes best see — Summary
When most I wink, then do mine eyes best see, For all the day they view things unrespected; But when I sleep, in dreams they look on thee, And darkly bright, are bright in dark directed. Then thou, whose shadow shadows doth make bright, How would thy shadow's form form happy show To the clear day with thy much clearer light, When to unseeing eyes thy shade shines so! How would, I say, mine eyes be blessed made By looking on thee in the living day, When in dead night thy fair imperfect shade Through heavy sleep on sightless eyes doth stay! All days are nights to see till I see thee, And nights bright days when dreams do show thee me.