Poetic form
What is a Sonnet?
Definition
A sonnet is a 14-line poem, usually in iambic pentameter, with a turn of thought near the end.
A sonnet is a compact 14-line poem built for an argument, question, or emotional turn. The form arrived in English from Italy in the 1500s and never left: fourteen lines, a steady heartbeat of iambic pentameter, and the secret ingredient — the volta, where the poem changes its mind, answers its own question, or lands its punch.
The Shakespearean (English) sonnet runs three quatrains and a final couplet (ABAB CDCD EFEF GG), saving its twist for the last two lines. The Petrarchan (Italian) sonnet splits 8 + 6, turning at line nine. Four hundred years of love poems, protest poems, and elegies have fit inside this little room — that's the form's magic: limits that concentrate feeling.
Structure of a sonnet
- 14 lines, traditionally iambic pentameter (10 syllables, da-DUM × 5)
- Shakespearean rhyme scheme: ABAB CDCD EFEF GG
- Petrarchan rhyme scheme: ABBAABBA + CDECDE (or CDCDCD)
- A volta (turn of thought), at line 9 (Petrarchan) or line 13 (Shakespearean)
How to write a sonnet
- Pick one idea with two sides — a question and answer, a problem and consolation.
- Draft three quatrains exploring the idea, each from a slightly new angle.
- Write the couplet first if you're stuck: know your landing, then build the runway.
- Count beats out loud — pentameter is heard, not counted on fingers.
- Let the volta genuinely turn: surprise yourself before you surprise the reader.
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167 sonnet examples
Classic and original sonnet poems, free to read in full.
Sonnet 18: Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
William Shakespeare · 1609
Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?Thou art more lovely and more temperate:Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
14 lines · sonnet
Sonnet 116: Let me not to the marriage of true minds
William Shakespeare · 1609
Let me not to the marriage of true mindsAdmit impediments. Love is not loveWhich alters when it alteration finds,
14 lines · sonnet
Sonnet 130: My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun
William Shakespeare · 1609
My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun;Coral is far more red than her lips' red;If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;
14 lines · sonnet
How Do I Love Thee? (Sonnet 43)
Elizabeth Barrett Browning · 1850
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.I love thee to the depth and breadth and heightMy soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
14 lines · sonnet
Bright Star
John Keats · 1819
Bright star, would I were stedfast as thou art—Not in lone splendour hung aloft the nightAnd watching, with eternal lids apart,
14 lines · sonnet
Remember
Christina Rossetti · 1862
Remember me when I am gone away,Gone far away into the silent land;When you can no more hold me by the hand,
14 lines · sonnet
To My Mother
Edgar Allan Poe · 1849
Because I feel that, in the Heavens above, The angels, whispering to one another,Can find, among their burning terms of love,
14 lines · sonnet
Sonnet 38: First time he kissed me
Elizabeth Barrett Browning · 1850
First time he kissed me, he but only kissedThe fingers of this hand wherewith I write;And ever since, it grew more clean and white,
14 lines · sonnet
Sonnet 22: When our two souls stand up erect and strong
Elizabeth Barrett Browning · 1850
When our two souls stand up erect and strong,Face to face, silent, drawing nigh and nigher,Until the lengthening wings break into fire
14 lines · sonnet
Death, Be Not Proud (Holy Sonnet 10)
John Donne · 1633
Death, be not proud, though some have callèd theeMighty and dreadful, for thou art not so;For those whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow
14 lines · sonnet
On First Looking Into Chapman's Homer
John Keats · 1816
Much have I travell'd in the realms of gold, And many goodly states and kingdoms seen; Round many western islands have I been
14 lines · sonnet
Ozymandias
Percy Bysshe Shelley · 1818
I met a traveller from an antique landWho said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stoneStand in the desert...Near them, on the sand,
14 lines · sonnet
The Soldier
Rupert Brooke · 1914
If I should die, think only this of me:That there's some corner of a foreign fieldThat is for ever England. There shall be
14 lines · sonnet
Sonnet 1: From fairest creatures we desire increase
William Shakespeare
From fairest creatures we desire increase,That thereby beauty's rose might never die,But as the riper should by time decease,
14 lines · sonnet
Sonnet 10: For shame! deny that thou bear'st love to any
William Shakespeare
For shame! deny that thou bear'st love to any,Who for thy self art so unprovident.Grant, if thou wilt, thou art belov'd of many,
14 lines · sonnet
Sonnet 100: Where art thou Muse that thou forget'st so long
William Shakespeare
Where art thou Muse that thou forget'st so long,To speak of that which gives thee all thy might?Spend'st thou thy fury on some worthless song,
14 lines · sonnet
Sonnet 101: O truant Muse what shall be thy amends
William Shakespeare
O truant Muse what shall be thy amendsFor thy neglect of truth in beauty dy'd?Both truth and beauty on my love depends;
14 lines · sonnet
Sonnet 102: My love is strengthen'd, though more weak in seeming
William Shakespeare
My love is strengthen'd, though more weak in seeming;I love not less, though less the show appear;That love is merchandiz'd, whose rich esteeming,
14 lines · sonnet
Sonnet 103: Alack! what poverty my Muse brings forth
William Shakespeare
Alack! what poverty my Muse brings forth,That having such a scope to show her pride,The argument, all bare, is of more worth
14 lines · sonnet
Sonnet 104: To me, fair friend, you never can be old
William Shakespeare · 1609
To me, fair friend, you never can be old,For as you were when first your eye I ey'd,Such seems your beauty still. Three winters cold,
14 lines · sonnet
Sonnet 105: Let not my love be call'd idolatry
William Shakespeare
Let not my love be call'd idolatry,Nor my beloved as an idol show,Since all alike my songs and praises be
14 lines · sonnet
Sonnet 106: When in the chronicle of wasted time
William Shakespeare
When in the chronicle of wasted timeI see descriptions of the fairest wights,And beauty making beautiful old rime,
14 lines · sonnet
Sonnet 107: Not mine own fears, nor the prophetic soul
William Shakespeare
Not mine own fears, nor the prophetic soulOf the wide world dreaming on things to come,Can yet the lease of my true love control,
14 lines · sonnet
Sonnet 108: What's in the brain, that ink may character
William Shakespeare
What's in the brain, that ink may character,Which hath not figur'd to thee my true spirit?What's new to speak, what now to register,
14 lines · sonnet
More examples
- Sonnet 109: O! never say that I was false of heartO! never say that I was false of heart,…14 lines
- Sonnet 11: As fast as thou shalt wane, so fast thou grow'stAs fast as thou shalt wane, so fast thou grow'st,…14 lines
- Sonnet 110: Alas! 'tis true, I have gone here and thereAlas! 'tis true, I have gone here and there,…14 lines
- Sonnet 111: O! for my sake do you with Fortune chideO! for my sake do you with Fortune chide,…14 lines
- Sonnet 112: Your love and pity doth the impression fillYour love and pity doth the impression fill,…14 lines
- Sonnet 113: Since I left you, mine eye is in my mindSince I left you, mine eye is in my mind;…14 lines
- Sonnet 114: Or whether doth my mind, being crown'd with youOr whether doth my mind, being crown'd with you,…14 lines
- Sonnet 115: Those lines that I before have writ do lieThose lines that I before have writ do lie,…14 lines
- Sonnet 117: Accuse me thus: that I have scanted allAccuse me thus: that I have scanted all,…14 lines
- Sonnet 118: Like as, to make our appetite more keenLike as, to make our appetite more keen,…14 lines
- Sonnet 119: What potions have I drunk of Siren tearsWhat potions have I drunk of Siren tears,…14 lines
- Sonnet 12: When I do count the clock that tells the timeWhen I do count the clock that tells the time,…14 lines
- Sonnet 120: That you were once unkind befriends me nowThat you were once unkind befriends me now,…14 lines
- Sonnet 121: 'Tis better to be vile than vile esteem'd'Tis better to be vile than vile esteem'd,…14 lines
- Sonnet 122: Thy gift, thy tables, are within my brainThy gift, thy tables, are within my brain…14 lines
- Sonnet 123: No, Time, thou shalt not boast that I do changeNo, Time, thou shalt not boast that I do change:…14 lines
- Sonnet 124: If my dear love were but the child of stateIf my dear love were but the child of state,…14 lines
- Sonnet 125: Were't aught to me I bore the canopyWere't aught to me I bore the canopy,…14 lines
- Sonnet 126: O thou, my lovely boy, who in thy powerO thou, my lovely boy, who in thy power…12 lines
- Sonnet 127: In the old age black was not counted fairIn the old age black was not counted fair,…14 lines
- Sonnet 128: How oft when thou, my music, music play'stHow oft when thou, my music, music play'st,…14 lines
- Sonnet 129: The expense of spirit in a waste of shameThe expense of spirit in a waste of shame…14 lines
- Sonnet 13: O! that you were your self; but, love you areO! that you were your self; but, love you are…14 lines
- Sonnet 131: Thou art as tyrannous, so as thou artThou art as tyrannous, so as thou art,…14 lines
- Sonnet 132: Thine eyes I love, and they, as pitying meThine eyes I love, and they, as pitying me,…14 lines
- Sonnet 133: Beshrew that heart that makes my heart to groanBeshrew that heart that makes my heart to groan…14 lines
- Sonnet 134: So, now I have confess'd that he is thineSo, now I have confess'd that he is thine,…14 lines
- Sonnet 135: Whoever hath her wish, thou hast thy 'Will,'Whoever hath her wish, thou hast thy 'Will,'…14 lines
- Sonnet 136: If thy soul check thee that I come so nearIf thy soul check thee that I come so near,…14 lines
- Sonnet 137: Thou blind fool, Love, what dost thou to mine eyesThou blind fool, Love, what dost thou to mine eyes,…14 lines
- Sonnet 138: When my love swears that she is made of truthWhen my love swears that she is made of truth,…14 lines
- Sonnet 139: O! call not me to justify the wrongO! call not me to justify the wrong…14 lines
- Sonnet 14: Not from the stars do I my judgement pluckNot from the stars do I my judgement pluck;…14 lines
- Sonnet 140: Be wise as thou art cruel; do not pressBe wise as thou art cruel; do not press…14 lines
- Sonnet 141: In faith I do not love thee with mine eyesIn faith I do not love thee with mine eyes,…14 lines
- Sonnet 142: Love is my sin, and thy dear virtue hateLove is my sin, and thy dear virtue hate,…14 lines
- Sonnet 143: Lo, as a careful housewife runs to catchLo, as a careful housewife runs to catch…14 lines
- Sonnet 144: Two loves I have of comfort and despairTwo loves I have of comfort and despair,…14 lines
- Sonnet 145: Those lips that Love's own hand did makeThose lips that Love's own hand did make,…14 lines
- Sonnet 146: Poor soul, the centre of my sinful earthPoor soul, the centre of my sinful earth,…14 lines
- Sonnet 147: My love is as a fever longing stillMy love is as a fever longing still,…14 lines
- Sonnet 148: O me! what eyes hath Love put in my headO me! what eyes hath Love put in my head,…14 lines
- Sonnet 149: Canst thou, O cruel! say I love thee notCanst thou, O cruel! say I love thee not,…14 lines
- Sonnet 15: When I consider every thing that growsWhen I consider every thing that grows…14 lines
- Sonnet 150: O! from what power hast thou this powerful mightO! from what power hast thou this powerful might,…14 lines
- Sonnet 151: Love is too young to know what conscience isLove is too young to know what conscience is,…14 lines
- Sonnet 152: In loving thee thou know'st I am forswornIn loving thee thou know'st I am forsworn,…14 lines
- Sonnet 153: Cupid laid by his brand and fell asleepCupid laid by his brand and fell asleep:…14 lines
- Sonnet 154: The little Love-god lying once asleepThe little Love-god lying once asleep,…14 lines
- Sonnet 16: But wherefore do not you a mightier wayBut wherefore do not you a mightier way…14 lines
- Sonnet 17: Who will believe my verse in time to comeWho will believe my verse in time to come,…14 lines
- Sonnet 19: Devouring Time, blunt thou the lion's pawsDevouring Time, blunt thou the lion's paws,…14 lines
- Sonnet 2: When forty winters shall besiege thy browWhen forty winters shall besiege thy brow,…14 lines
- Sonnet 20: A woman's face with nature's own hand paintedA woman's face with nature's own hand painted,…14 lines
- Sonnet 21: So is it not with me as with that MuseSo is it not with me as with that Muse,…14 lines
- Sonnet 22: My glass shall not persuade me I am oldMy glass shall not persuade me I am old,…14 lines
- Sonnet 23: As an unperfect actor on the stageAs an unperfect actor on the stage,…14 lines
- Sonnet 24: Mine eye hath play'd the painter and hath stell'dMine eye hath play'd the painter and hath stell'd,…14 lines
- Sonnet 25: Let those who are in favour with their starsLet those who are in favour with their stars…14 lines
- Sonnet 26: Lord of my love, to whom in vassalageLord of my love, to whom in vassalage…14 lines
- Sonnet 27: Weary with toil, I haste me to my bedWeary with toil, I haste me to my bed,…14 lines
- Sonnet 28: How can I then return in happy plightHow can I then return in happy plight,…14 lines
- Sonnet 29: When in disgrace with fortune and men's eyesWhen in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes…14 lines
- Sonnet 3: Look in thy glass and tell the face thou viewestLook in thy glass and tell the face thou viewest…14 lines
- Sonnet 30: When to the sessions of sweet silent thoughtWhen to the sessions of sweet silent thought…14 lines
- Sonnet 31: Thy bosom is endeared with all heartsThy bosom is endeared with all hearts,…14 lines
- Sonnet 32: If thou survive my well-contented dayIf thou survive my well-contented day,…14 lines
- Sonnet 33: Full many a glorious morning have I seenFull many a glorious morning have I seen…14 lines
- Sonnet 34: Why didst thou promise such a beauteous dayWhy didst thou promise such a beauteous day,…14 lines
- Sonnet 35: No more be griev'd at that which thou hast doneNo more be griev'd at that which thou hast done:…14 lines
- Sonnet 36: Let me confess that we two must be twainLet me confess that we two must be twain,…14 lines
- Sonnet 37: As a decrepit father takes delightAs a decrepit father takes delight…14 lines
- Sonnet 38: How can my muse want subject to inventHow can my muse want subject to invent,…14 lines
- Sonnet 39: O! how thy worth with manners may I singO! how thy worth with manners may I sing,…14 lines
- Sonnet 4: Unthrifty loveliness, why dost thou spendUnthrifty loveliness, why dost thou spend…14 lines
- Sonnet 40: Take all my loves, my love, yea take them allTake all my loves, my love, yea take them all;…14 lines
- Sonnet 41: Those pretty wrongs that liberty commitsThose pretty wrongs that liberty commits,…14 lines
- Sonnet 42: That thou hast her it is not all my griefThat thou hast her it is not all my grief,…14 lines
- Sonnet 43: When most I wink, then do mine eyes best seeWhen most I wink, then do mine eyes best see,…14 lines
- Sonnet 44: If the dull substance of my flesh were thoughtIf the dull substance of my flesh were thought,…14 lines
- Sonnet 45: The other two, slight air, and purging fireThe other two, slight air, and purging fire…14 lines
- Sonnet 46: Mine eye and heart are at a mortal warMine eye and heart are at a mortal war,…14 lines
- Sonnet 47: Betwixt mine eye and heart a league is tookBetwixt mine eye and heart a league is took,…14 lines
- Sonnet 48: How careful was I when I took my wayHow careful was I when I took my way,…14 lines
- Sonnet 49: Against that time, if ever that time comeAgainst that time, if ever that time come,…14 lines
- Sonnet 5: Those hours, that with gentle work did frameThose hours, that with gentle work did frame…14 lines
- Sonnet 50: How heavy do I journey on the wayHow heavy do I journey on the way,…14 lines
- Sonnet 51: Thus can my love excuse the slow offenceThus can my love excuse the slow offence…14 lines
- Sonnet 52: So am I as the rich, whose blessed keySo am I as the rich, whose blessed key,…14 lines
- Sonnet 53: What is your substance, whereof are you madeWhat is your substance, whereof are you made,…14 lines
- Sonnet 54: O! how much more doth beauty beauteous seemO! how much more doth beauty beauteous seem…14 lines
- Sonnet 55: Not marble, nor the gilded monumentsNot marble, nor the gilded monuments…14 lines
- Sonnet 56: Sweet love, renew thy force; be it not saidSweet love, renew thy force; be it not said…14 lines
- Sonnet 57: Being your slave what should I do but tendBeing your slave what should I do but tend,…14 lines
- Sonnet 58: That god forbid, that made me first your slaveThat god forbid, that made me first your slave,…14 lines
- Sonnet 59: If there be nothing new, but that which isIf there be nothing new, but that which is…14 lines
- Sonnet 6: Then let not winter's ragged hand defaceThen let not winter's ragged hand deface,…14 lines
- Sonnet 60: Like as the waves make towards the pebbled shoreLike as the waves make towards the pebbled shore,…14 lines
- Sonnet 61: Is it thy will, thy image should keep openIs it thy will, thy image should keep open…14 lines
- Sonnet 62: Sin of self-love possesseth all mine eyeSin of self-love possesseth all mine eye…14 lines
- Sonnet 63: Against my love shall be as I am nowAgainst my love shall be as I am now,…14 lines
- Sonnet 64: When I have seen by Time's fell hand defac'dWhen I have seen by Time's fell hand defac'd…14 lines
- Sonnet 65: Since brass, nor stone, nor earth, nor boundless seaSince brass, nor stone, nor earth, nor boundless sea,…14 lines
- Sonnet 66: Tired with all these, for restful death I cryTired with all these, for restful death I cry,…14 lines
- Sonnet 67: Ah! wherefore with infection should he liveAh! wherefore with infection should he live,…14 lines
- Sonnet 68: Thus is his cheek the map of days outwornThus is his cheek the map of days outworn,…14 lines
- Sonnet 69: Those parts of thee that the world's eye doth viewThose parts of thee that the world's eye doth view…14 lines
- Sonnet 7: Lo! in the orient when the gracious lightLo! in the orient when the gracious light…14 lines
- Sonnet 70: That thou art blam'd shall not be thy defectThat thou art blam'd shall not be thy defect,…14 lines
- Sonnet 71: No longer mourn for me when I am deadNo longer mourn for me when I am dead…14 lines
- Sonnet 72: O! lest the world should task you to reciteO! lest the world should task you to recite…14 lines
- Sonnet 73: That time of year thou mayst in me beholdThat time of year thou mayst in me behold…14 lines
- Sonnet 74: But be contented: when that fell arrestBut be contented: when that fell arrest…14 lines
- Sonnet 75: So are you to my thoughts as food to lifeSo are you to my thoughts as food to life,…14 lines
- Sonnet 76: Why is my verse so barren of new prideWhy is my verse so barren of new pride,…14 lines
- Sonnet 77: Thy glass will show thee how thy beauties wearThy glass will show thee how thy beauties wear,…14 lines
- Sonnet 78: So oft have I invoked thee for my MuseSo oft have I invoked thee for my Muse,…14 lines
- Sonnet 79: Whilst I alone did call upon thy aidWhilst I alone did call upon thy aid,…14 lines
- Sonnet 8: Music to hear, why hear'st thou music sadly?Music to hear, why hear'st thou music sadly?…14 lines
- Sonnet 80: O! how I faint when I of you do writeO! how I faint when I of you do write,…14 lines
- Sonnet 81: Or I shall live your epitaph to makeOr I shall live your epitaph to make,…14 lines
- Sonnet 82: I grant thou wert not married to my MuseI grant thou wert not married to my Muse,…14 lines
- Sonnet 83: I never saw that you did painting needI never saw that you did painting need,…14 lines
- Sonnet 84: Who is it that says most, which can say moreWho is it that says most, which can say more,…14 lines
- Sonnet 85: My tongue-tied Muse in manners holds her stillMy tongue-tied Muse in manners holds her still,…14 lines
- Sonnet 86: Was it the proud full sail of his great verseWas it the proud full sail of his great verse,…14 lines
- Sonnet 87: Farewell! thou art too dear for my possessingFarewell! thou art too dear for my possessing,…14 lines
- Sonnet 88: When thou shalt be dispos'd to set me lightWhen thou shalt be dispos'd to set me light,…14 lines
- Sonnet 89: Say that thou didst forsake me for some faultSay that thou didst forsake me for some fault,…14 lines
- Sonnet 9: Is it for fear to wet a widow's eyeIs it for fear to wet a widow's eye,…14 lines
- Sonnet 90: Then hate me when thou wilt; if ever, nowThen hate me when thou wilt; if ever, now;…14 lines
- Sonnet 91: Some glory in their birth, some in their skillSome glory in their birth, some in their skill,…14 lines
- Sonnet 92: But do thy worst to steal thyself awayBut do thy worst to steal thyself away,…14 lines
- Sonnet 93: So shall I live, supposing thou art trueSo shall I live, supposing thou art true,…14 lines
- Sonnet 94: They that have power to hurt, and will do noneThey that have power to hurt, and will do none,…14 lines
- Sonnet 95: How sweet and lovely dost thou make the shameHow sweet and lovely dost thou make the shame…14 lines
- Sonnet 96: Some say thy fault is youth, some wantonnessSome say thy fault is youth, some wantonness;…14 lines
- Sonnet 97: How like a winter hath my absence beenHow like a winter hath my absence been…14 lines
- Sonnet 98: From you have I been absent in the springFrom you have I been absent in the spring,…14 lines
- Sonnet 99: The forward violet thus did I chideThe forward violet thus did I chide:…15 lines
- The New ColossusNot like the brazen giant of Greek fame,…14 lines
- When I Have Fears That I May Cease to BeBefore my pen has glean'd my teeming brain,…13 lines
- On His Blindness"All service ranks the same with God!…15 lines