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   mwestwood Teacher
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   While there is much figurative language in this sonnet, there does not appear to be any symbolism. Line 3 has the metaphor "a journey in my head" as wearily lying down to sleep, the poet is kept awake by his ponderings of his lover.  Extending this metaphor, the poet describes the thoughts of the lover as "a zealous pilgrimage" (l.6) in the "imaginary sight"(l.9) of his mind.  To his "sightless view"(l.10)--metaphor for his mind--the poet is "presented" the "shadow,"(l.10) of his lover, the mental image of the lover,  that is "like a jewel"(l.11)--simile-- that makes the night beautiful.  The darkness comes alive to the poet is his beautiful reverie of his lover, so much so that the night's "old face"(l.12)--personification--becomes new. 

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   Posted by mwestwood on Tuesday January 13, 2009 at 8:55 AM