The Sonnets CXXVI - O thou, my lovely boy, who in thy power
By William Shakespeare
O thou, my lovely boy, who in thy power
Dost hold Times fickle glass, his fickle hour;
Who hast by waning grown, and therein showst
Thy lovers withering, as thy sweet self growst.
If Nature, sovereign mistress over wrack,
As thou goest onwards, still will pluck thee back,
She keeps thee to this purpose, that her skill
May time disgrace and wretched minutes kill.
Yet fear her, O thou minion of her pleasure!
She may detain, but not still keep, her treasure:
Her audit (though delayed) answered must be,
And her quietus is to render thee.