That time of year thou mayst in me behold
When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang
Upon those boughs which shake against the cold,
Bare ruin'd choirs, where late the sweet birds sang.
In me thou see'st the twilight of such day
As after sunset fadeth in the west;
Which by and by black night doth take away,
Death's second self, that seals up all in rest.
In me thou see'st the glowing of such fire,
That on the ashes of his youth doth lie,
As the death-bed, whereon it must expire,
Consum'd with that which it was nourish'd by.
This thou perceiv'st, which makes thy love more strong,
To love that well, which thou must leave ere long.
What does the poet mean by “death’s second self” in line 8 of the sonnet?
Explanation
Answer: A - The poet is referring to sleep when he uses the phrase “death’s second self.” The second quatrain is about twilight, sunset, and night. The entire last line reads “Death’s second self, that seals up all in rest.” The reference to “rest” indicates that he is referring to sleep, at night, and making a comparison between sleep and death.
