TO THE VIRGINS, TO MAKE MUCH OF TIME - A poem by Robert Herrick


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Robert Herrick - TO THE VIRGINS, TO MAKE MUCH OF TIME

Gather ye rose-buds while ye may:
Old Time is still a-flying;
And this same flower that smiles to-day,
To-morrow will be dying.

The glorious lamp of heaven, the Sun,
The higher he's a-getting,
The sooner will his race be run,
And nearer he's to setting.

That age is best, which is the first,
When youth and blood are warmer;
But being spent, the worse, and worst
Times, still succeed the former.

--Then be not coy, but use your time,
And while ye may, go marry;
For having lost but once your prime,
You may for ever tarry.

Added: on December 19th, 2005 at 1:41 AM | Viewed: 3508 times | Comments (2)

TO THE VIRGINS, TO MAKE MUCH OF TIME - Comments and Information
Poet: Robert Herrick Poem: TO THE VIRGINS, TO MAKE MUCH OF TIME Poem of the Day on: Jun 15 2008 Comment 2 of 2, added on June 12th, 2006 at 6:11 AM. Danielle--ur wrong this poem is telling everyone-all the youth-not to waste time and to live your life to the fullest. the word "virgin" is in fact not used today as it was earlier in history-we talked about this in my english class-virgin means he is talking to those who have not yet experienced much of life. Kaitlyn from United States Comment 1 of 2, added on December 19th, 2005 at 1:41 AM. Although Herrick’s poem was written during the politically and socially conservative era of the sixteen hundreds, I believe his poem is discouraging female chastity. He writes that virgins may be “of smiles today…but tomorrow will be dying.” He is urging them to make haste and put to use the time they have while they are in their prime, writing, “the sooner his race be run…the nearer he is to setting.” The gender of whom he is addressing is unclear, as virginity was and still is generally seen as a woman’s issue, since women are often looked down upon for engaging in premarital sex. Danielle from United States More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, TO THE VIRGINS, TO MAKE MUCH OF TIME, has received 2 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own. Of course you can also always discuss poems by Robert Herrick with others on the Poetry Connection poetry forum!

Poem Info
TO THE VIRGINS, TO MAKE MUCH OF TIME Last read: 2009-11-23 01:00:07 Poem of the Day on: Jun 15 2008 Viewed 3508 times. Added on December 19th, 2005 at 1:41 AM.

Herrick Info
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