A Critical Analysis of "The Parting" by Michael Drayton By looking at a poem which has a specific form, for example the sonnet, consider to what extent its particular techniques enhance its meaning. The parting by Michael Drayton is a sonnet. It is a poem about the break up of the relationship between the author and his partner. I feel that the meaning of the poem is greatly enhanced by its form, and for a variety of reasons. Firstly, because the sonnet is a very strict form, the author has to be very careful in constructing his poem, to ensure that it fits the design constraints. One of these constraints is that the sonnet is very