Sonnets | The Poet

In this excerpt, John Klause discusses the Poet's frequent self-abasement and his seeming inconsistency, which Klause regards as part of the speaker's strategy to create and preserve the affection of a young man who is neither lovable nor aware of what love means. Klause also discusses the candor of Sonnets 127-52, judging that the Poet despises the Dark Lady and knows he's a fool for desiring her.