Sonnet 73 is the first in a second pair of poems to meditate on the poet's age and mortality and to reflect on the point of his very existence. But while Sonnets 71 & 72 focus on Shakespeare's reputation, which he perceives as poor and which he fears might also tarnish the young man were he to show his love and mourning for Shakespeare after his death, Sonnet 73 concentrates on the wondrous realisation – or possibly hope – that in spite of Shakespeare's age and his approaching what he believes to be his twilight years, the young man not only continues to love him, but appears to appreciate both the need and the opportunity to do so before they must eventually part.

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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