Sonnet 1 is somewhat a sonnet on how to write a sonnet to Stella. 1st quatrain: He loves her, but he cannot find the words to tell her. He is "fain" (desirous) in his poem to show his love, and the "dear" (stella) might read his poems, discover he loves her, and feel pity for him and, therefore, he might obtain her grace" (favor). 2nd quatrain: He seeks the words to tell her and turns to "others' leaves" (He gets ideas from others.). He hopes some fresh ideas will flow from his "sunburned brain." The "sunburned brain" is symbolic in that it has been burned by the "sun" of Stella's beauty and by the brilliance of other poets' words.
Next is the turn--focus changes in 3rd quatrain: But! ideas left him--words were halting; his invention was lacking support; others' "feet" (their metrical feet--their words/poetry were "strangers"--not helping him. He is "great with child"--wanting to give birth, so to speak, to poetry for her. He is inthe throes of creation=labor pains.
Couplet: Figuratively, he is beating himself up for not being able to find ideas, etc. And then his Muse calls him a Fool and tells him to simply write from his heart!
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