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O how I faint when I of you do write,
Knowing a better spirit doth use your name,
And in the praise thereof spends all his might,
To make me tongue-tied, speaking of your fame.
But since your worth (wide as the ocean is)
The humble as the proudest sail doth bear,
My saucy bark (inferior far to his)
On your broad main doth willfully appear.
Your shallowest help will hold me up afloat,
Whilst he upon you soundless deep doth ride,
Or (being wrack’d) I am a worthless boat,
He a tall building and of goodly pride.
     Then if he thrive and I be cast away,
     The worst was this: my love was my decay.

• What does this poem mean?  Do you see its theme reflected in any modern-day scenarios, movies, or music?

• Try to identify the iambs in each line (there are five in each line to satisfy the iambic pentameter).