Sonnet 109 by Shakespeare

Sonnet 109 is one of 154 sonnets written by the English playwright and poet William Shakespeare. It's a member of the Fair Youth sequence, in which the poet expresses his love towards a young man.

Synopsis
The poet denies that he has been emotionally unfaithful even though he has been absent. He can no more be untrue to the youth than to himself. If he has wandered away, he has returned, and washed away his own guilt. Even though the poet is capable of shameful behaviour, he could never be so corrupted that he would lose the perfection of the youth.

Interpretations

 * Susannah York, for the 2002 compilation album, When Love Speaks (EMI Classics)