"That time of year thou mayst in me behold", William Shakespeare
             In the poem "That time of year thou mayst in me behold", author William Shakespeare attempts to explain to his readers the emotions one would likely feel during the passing of time and entering into old age, when one senses the end of their life is near. The theme of this poem is that of sorrow and bereavement over the certain fact we all must face, that of mortality. While death is certainly not a thought anyone enjoys pondering, this poem successfully puts into perspective the fact that everyone eventually breathes his or her last breath and it is a natural and inevitable part of the life process. Shakespeare attempts to make the reader see that it is he who is suffering from old age in lines one and five, and even in the title "mayst in me behold" (957). Shakespeare uses metaphors in this poem in order to communicate the sense of sadness and loss one feels as their time of passing approaches them.
             Poets often use a metaphor to compare one thing, usually the intended subject, with another. More often than not, the poet will carry one metaphor through the length of the entire poem. However, in "That time of year thou mayst in me behold" (957), Shakespeare chose to use more than one metaphor to emphasize to readers the true sorrow one might feel upon facing their death and to present the increasing emotions felt as time continues to pass.
             The first metaphor in lines two and three compares death to autumn, a time when leaves turn colors of brown and yellow, and often fall lifeless from a tree's limbs. Shakespeare depicts the tree itself to be frail, shaking against the cold in line three. During autumn, most of the birds
             have migrated south and take with them their song, leaving quiet lifelessness behind, as Shakespeare illustrates in line four "Bare ruined choirs, where late the sweet birds sound"...