Sonnet 26
by William Shakespeare (1564 − 1616, only 52)

“Lord of my love, to whom in vassalage
Thy merit hath my duty strongly knit”

Text tattoos of all sorts are gaining in popularity. What they may lack in imagery and symbolism they make up for in the department of literary allusions. Even when you tell it like it is, text tattoos can have meaning within the meaning.

William Shakespeare (National Portrait Gallery, London)


Title Page of the Sonnets


Dedication Page of the Sonnets

Taken out of context, the meaning can change utterly, as is the case with this month’s tattoo. Although the tattoo is clearly a declaration of love, the subject of Sonnet 26 is not a person, but poetry. In addressing the “Lord of my love”, Shakespeare is addressing his own talent as a poet. In the first quatrain, he is affirming that he understands his duty to create poetry since he’s been given the talent to do so.

Be Mine

Even so, the first two lines of Sonnet 26 use important words when it comes to emotion: love and duty, strongly knit. If you and your better half wanted matching tattoos on Valentine’s Day but you didn’t want a heart, rose, or to play the “name game”, a Shakespearean sonnet might do nicely. Like tattoos of half of a heart, one phrase completes the other.

The Bard

The sonnets of William Shakespeare (154 poems in the 1609 publication, published when he was 45) are sometimes referred to as the first modern love poems. Who better to speak your words of love than the bard? You don’t even have to be an English major or actor. His verse is romantic, full of the grammar and vocabulary that we intuitively associate with another era. Simply reading them in the Gothic font, although there’s no attribution, you have the sense that they carry the weight of a serious writer whose words have transcended their time.

Often overlooked when it comes to symbolism, the text tattoo can have a wonderful amount of depth. Whether in context or not, there is a subtle layering of interpretations that tattoos of words can achieve. Font choice, body placement, even color can play a role. The limitless possibilities of a text tattoo may well be contributing to their growing trend.

Bonus Factoid: Did you know that the sonnets are dedicated to a man? It’s a topic that’s sparked a bit of a debate.