William Shakespeare Sonnet 60

"Like as the waves make towards the pebbled shore, (A)

So do our minutes hasten to their end;(B)

Each changing place with that which goes before,(A)

In sequent toil all forwards do contend. (B)

Within the the first quatrain, it is written the waves make towards the pebbled shore so do our minutes hasten to their end. The pebbled shore can be interpreted as minutes. As each pebble moves with the waves it is as if minutes rolled away.

Nativity, once in the main of light, (C)

Crawls to maturity, wherewith being crown'd,(D)

Crooked elipses 'gainst his glory fight,(C)

And Time that gave doth now his gift confound.(D)

Every dawn the sun rises which brings new life. The sun is a symbol of life; rises to its peak. "Crawls to maturity, wherewith being crown'd. Mid-day is the high point which symbolizes the peak in life, whether good or bad. Crooked ellipses, shows hard times, trial and turmoil. And finally bringing the day to an end, death.

Time doth transfix the flourish set on youth (E)

And delves the parallels in beauty's brow,(F)

Feeds on the rarities of nature's truth,(E)

And nothing stands but for his scythe to mow:(F)

Nothing can escape time. For time will show on one's self. Beauty is fun to have but do not think nature can not take it away. Eventually time will out last all. Nothing can stop time from moving forward.

And yet to times in hope my verse shall stand,(G)

Praising thy worth, despite his cruel hand."(G)

Time may beat all, but Shakespeare is going to try and go with time with this sonnet. The "cruel hand" is the hand of time and Shakespeare has so far stuck with time through million of readers.