To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article does not cite any references or sources. (December 2006) Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed. |
"To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time" is a poem written by Robert Herrick in the 17th century. The poem is in the genre of carpe diem, to seize the day.
[edit] Poem
To the Virgins, to make much of Time
GATHER ye rosebuds while ye may,
- Old Time is still a-flying:
And this same flower that smiles today
- 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.
[edit] Interpretation
The "sun" in the first line of the second stanza may be a pun on the word "son", as he is referring to youth. The word "marry" in the third last line of the last stanza may be a pun on the word "merry", again stressing the "carpe diem" theme.
