"A Lover's Complaint" is a narrative poem traditionally attributed to William Shakespeare, first published in 1609 at the end of the quarto edition of his Sonnets. Written in rhyme royal, the poem depicts a young woman weeping beside a river, tearfully casting love letters and tokens into the stream. To a passing reverend man, she recounts how a handsome, eloquent youth seduced and then abandoned her. The poem explores themes of desire, betrayal, gender, and the seductive power of persuasive language. Though its authorship has been debated by scholars, it remains a compelling companion piece to Shakespeare's Sonnets.
