In the “Dark Lady” sonnet cycle, Shakespeare satirizes traditional notions of beauty and of love by describing a woman who apparently possesses none of the conventionally cherished characteristics that made a woman in Shakespeare’s day appealing. The poet approaches the lady, then, with an admiration that is not evident to the reader initially. The meaning of “Sonnet 127”, the first poem in the “Dark Lady” series, begins with Shakespeare as he familiarizes the reader with what society defines as ideal beauty. This orientation is particularly helpful for the contemporary reader, who may approach the work with a different, more modern interpretation of physical beauty. In this Shakespearian sonnet, The bard explains that black has never been ideal for women, and by this he refers to all aspects of darkness as they apply to physical attributes, including the skin, hair, and eyes. Again, reflecting upon Spenser’s “Fair is my love, when her fair golden hairs,” the reader understands just how important a departure the Shakespeare sonnets are from the traditional love sonnets.