Shakespeare's Sonnets: When most I wink, then do mine eyes best see

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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 showTo the clear day with thy much clearer light,When to un-seeing eyes thy shade shines so?How would (I say) mine eyes be blessèd madeBy looking on thee in the living day,When in dead night their fair imperfect shadeThrough heavy sleep on sightless eyes doth stay? All days are nights to see till I see thee, And nights bright days when dreams do shew thee me.

© William Shakespeare