Point of View

The sonnet is written in the first-person present-tense. The speaker is not a mere observer, but an actor – in this case, the primary character in the poem, and the instigator of the poem’s central action. This choice of first person is standard in poetry, especially of the era, because it invites the reader into the world of the poem while also emphasizing the singularity of the speaker’s perspective.

Similarly, the use of present tense indicates to the reader that the events are taking place in real time. This choice encourages the reader to see the poem as something that is happening in an immediate timeframe, giving it a sense of urgency that may create stakes for the poem or steer the reader towards recognizing the relevance of the poem for their own lives. Since Jonson was writing for an audience of Tudor courtiers...