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False Comparisons

False Comparisons
The first thought to come to mind when I hear the words "love poem" is lies. It's almost as if the author of a love poem will say anything to swoon the object of his affection. The only writer to go against this idea of over dramatic ness is William Shakespeare in his poem "My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun."
The theme of this poem is honesty. Instead of comparing her features to things unachievable, he just tells the truth. "My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun." (Line 1) This is just one of the many truths that Shakespeare says when many authors like to tell their lovers the opposite. They tell her she smells like the most beautiful perfume and that their smile is brighter that the brightest star in the sky. Shakespeare knows that no ones eyes are as bright as the sun; he doesn't tell her that her eyes are bad he just lets her know that they aren't as good as the sun.
Shakespeare uses a lot of imagery to describe his lover's appearance. "If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head." (Line 4) From this line we as readers don't get the image of beautiful, voluptuous and full hair. Instead we envision nasty ratty hair that probably hasn't been washed in days and it lays limp on her head.
In the majority of the lines Shakespeare used a compare and contrast method. "If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun." (Line 3) He could have used any other off white word, such as stucco or mother of pearl but he uses dun. Just the sound of the word sounds dull and unpleasing.
"I grant I never saw a goddess go/ My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground." (Line 11-12) there is this idea that when goddesses walk it looks as if they are floating above the ground. They are so graceful and peaceful when they walk, but not Shakespeare's lover. The word tread leaves not a single impression of grace. One could even imagine that she when she walks she just slides her feet across the ground, not even fully picking them up. Or...