Stanza 1:
- The poet begins by addressing someone (presumably the beloved) and stating that summer's beauty can fade over time. Summer days are typically associated with pleasant weather, sunshine, and warmth.
Stanza 2:
- In this stanza, the poet acknowledges that elements often associated with summer beauty, such as the sun and wind, can have harmful effects. The sun can scorch or burn, and the wind can be harsh and cause damage.
Stanza 3:
- Here, the poet admits that summer often turns into a harsh season with rough winds and fading beauty. It suggests that summer's beauty is ultimately not reliable and will inevitably decline.
Stanza 4:
- In this stanza, the poet introduces the comparison to the beloved. While summer's beauty is transient and unreliable, the beloved's beauty and worth will not decay over time. Rather, they will remain eternal through the enduring power of the poet's verse.
In summary, Stanza 1 establishes the beauty of summer, Stanza 2 emphasizes its potential harsh effects, Stanza 3 highlights its ultimate decline, and Stanza 4 affirms that the beloved's beauty, celebrated in the poet's words, will last forever. Each stanza builds upon the previous one to showcase the enduring and superior beauty of the beloved over the temporary pleasures of a summer day.