When most I wink, then do mine eyes best see,
For all the day they view things unrespected;
But when I sleep, in dreams they look on thee,
And darkly bright, are bright in dark directed.

Then thou, whose shadow shadows doth make bright,
How would thy shadow‘s form form happy show
To the clear day with thy much clearer light,
When to unseeing eyes thy shade shines so!

How would, I say, mine eyes be blessed made
By looking on thee in the living day,
When in dead night thy fair imperfect shade
Through heavy sleep on sightless eyes doth stay!

    All days are nights to see till I see thee,
    And nights bright days when dreams do show thee me.

This is a beautiful sonnet by William Shakespeare, titled “Sonnet 43.” In this sonnet, the speaker expresses that their true perception and understanding of the world occur not when their eyes are open during the day, but rather when they are closed in sleep and the subject of the poem appears in their dreams. The imagery is rich and vivid, portraying a deep longing for the presence of the beloved. The contrast between light and dark, wakefulness and sleep, serves to emphasise the intensity of the speaker’s emotions. This sonnet beautifully captures the essence of love, yearning, and the transformative power of dreams.