Old Age and Love: Old Age and Love is the central theme of “Sonnet 73.” In this poem, the poet tells his beloved that he is growing old. He uses three metaphors to describe this: autumn, twilight, and a dying fire. He compares himself to autumn, when the trees have lost most of their leaves and stand bare in the cold. This shows that his youth is gone. He is in his old age. Then, he compares himself to twilight, the time just after sunset when daylight is fading. Night is coming. This image shows that death is approaching.

Finally, he compares himself to a dying fire that burns weakly on its own ashes. This fire once gave warmth and light, but now it is almost gone. In the same way, his life is slowly coming to an end. All these images suggest weakness, loss, and death. They do not make the poet look attractive or young. Still, the person he is speaking to continues to love him deeply. In fact, the poet’s beloved loves him even more because they know that their time together is short. Hence, the poem suggests real love is not destroyed by age or death. Instead, love becomes stronger and more valuable when people realise that life is temporary.