Shakespeare's "Sonnet 50" William Shakespeare's "Sonnet 50" ,on first read, is the story of a man on a sad journey, leaving a loved one and riding a horse that seems more reluctant to go than he does. Upon second evaluation one must ask, why would it pain the horse to leave? The answer is that the horse represents the writers heart. The trudging journey in the sonnet is a metaphor for the speakers grief and pain of parting with someone he loves. In stanzas 1-4, the speaker's problem is brought to light. For some unknown reason, the speaker cannot be with his friend any longer and must move on. He