e lines are taken from William Shakespeare’s (1564-1616) “Sonnet 73” (1609). This is one of his most famous sonnets about old age, time, and love. In this poem, the poet speaks to a young friend or beloved. He explains how he is growing older day by day. He uses simple, beautiful images from nature to show the slow fading of life.

In these lines, the poet compares himself to twilight. It is the time just after sunset. The last light of the day is fading away. Twilight is a time when the day is almost finished and night is coming soon. By saying “In me thou see’st the twilight of such day,” Shakespeare means that his life is no longer bright like morning or noon. Instead, he is now in the evening time of his life.

He continues, “As after sunset fadeth in the west”. This means that just like the sun sets in the west, and the light starts to disappear, his own strength and youth are also disappearing. Night will soon come. Night is the symbol of death. He calls night “death’s second self.”

So, the poet uses the image of twilight to show that he is very close to the end of his life. When his beloved looks at him, they understand this.