Sonnet 18 is one of the best known of the 154 sonnets written by English playwright, William Shakespeare. Sonnet 18 is deemed by many to be one of the most engagingly written verses in the English language. It has been prized because Shakespeare was able to capture the spirit of love so simply.
It is a quintessential love poem, and that is why it is often used on Valentine's Day. This sonnet is a perfect example of Shakespeare's ability to explain in human emotion so perfectly. Shakespeare's poem demonstrates the traditional belief that love is eternal.
He poetically contrasts this with the conventional idea that love is eternal. He poetically compares this with the seasons, which change throughout the year. The irony of the poem is that it is not the young man himself who will be everlasting, but the description of him contained in verse.