My Mistress' Eyes

In Shakespeare's poem, "My Mistress' Eyes", the speaker compares his mistress' characteristics to various objects that are typically used in poetry. However, he does not compare her in a complimentary light. He states that she is not like these things. Again and again, he seemingly criticizes the mistress. Her lips are not red like "coral". Her skin is not as the snow; her cheeks do not resemble roses. These observations seem to castigate the mistress for being all that poetry says that she should be. However, he states, "As any she belied with false compare (885)." He disputes the rationalizations through which he already processed. He says that although she is not these things, she is still a goddess.