Short answers, pulled from the story.
William Shakespeare's Sonnet 18 appeared in print for the first time within a quarto volume released in 1609. This physical book contained all 154 sonnets written by the English poet and playwright during his lifetime.
The rhyme scheme uses ABAB CDCD EFEF GG to create a predictable musical structure. A strong beat falls on every second syllable throughout the entire composition with ten syllables per line known as iambic pentameter.
Scholars have debated whether the sequence was intended for private circulation or public consumption before its eventual release. The title page of that edition listed the collection as dedicated to a mysterious figure known only as Mr. W.H.
Summer days are described as fleeting and subject to inevitable decay over time while the poem promises eternal life through verse. As long as human eyes can read these lines, the beloved remains preserved against the passage of time.
Paul Kelly included a version titled Seven Sonnets & a Song on his 2016 album release. Bryan Ferry recorded a track for Diana Princess of Wales Tribute in 1997 featuring the poem's text.