Sonnet 130

by William Shakespeare

My Mistress’ eyes are nothing like the Sun;
Coral is far more red than her lips’ red;
If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;
If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.
I have seen roses damask’d, red and white,
But no such roses see I in her cheeks;
And in some perfumes is there more delight
Than in the breath that from my Mistress reeks.
I love to hear her speak, yet well I know
That Music hath a far more pleasing sound;
I grant I never saw a goddess go;
My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground:
And yet by heaven I think my love as rare
As any she beli’d with false compare.

© William Shakespeare

Read more on Shakespeare and Truth in this blog written by Allie Esiri to coincide with her new collection Shakespeare for Every Day of the Year, one of our recommended reads for this year.