To The Virgins, Make Much Of Time Poem by Robert Herrick

To The Virgins, Make Much Of Time

Rating: 3.8


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.

Tuesday, December 31, 2002
Topic(s) of this poem: love
COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Jessica Hoyle 19 July 2007

The poem has the theme of Carpe Diem... Use life to the full. Eat, drink have a great time. However, due to the time frame and the values of the society, Herrick is not urgin the 'virgins' to delve in to the pleasures of life, and to lead adulterous lives, but he urging them to marry, to join in holy matromony. IN this way they are upholdind the religious and social expectations of this time frame. The whole poem states that time is passing, and the best time in which to find a mate is when you are young and desirable. Otherwise, you will tarry at your worst time- thats right, hang around unwed for you 'worser' years. This poem is quite short and sweet. Very simple and very easily understandable.

15 11 Reply
Oben Özel 11 May 2007

Can someone please explain this poem?

11 11 Reply
Rl Glassman 17 July 2015

Essentially, the poet is saying that time does not last forever. No one has infinite days. The poet is telling young people in specific that they need to do all the things they want to do before it's too late. If you want to do something, do it now. Because there is no better time than now.

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Richard 10 January 2018

Nice poem, I liked the words. Robert.

1 3 Reply
Chinedu Dike 16 August 2015

Piece of great elegance bristling with insight. The young lives on hope and the old on remembrance. I believe Time is one of the greatest resources available to man. A lovely piece of poetry nicely penned in poetic diction with good rhyme scheme. Thanks for sharing Robert. Please read my poem MANDELA - THE IMMORTAL ICON.

2 5 Reply

i assume the word virgin implies a class of people who stay repressed.the poet simply wants to say that life is the bond of unity.so go join your beloved while you can.

2 4 Reply
Kay Staley 08 February 2014

I first read this poem in a novel by Gilbert Morris. I didn't like the poem and didn't think about it but something about it must have understood me because after reading it once I accidentally memorized it. A few years later it is still stuck in my head and I still don't like it. The name is abominable, and I hate the idea that to use your time wisely you have to get married. It puzzles me how I memorized it after reading it once. Maybe someday I will grow to like it as much as it seems to like me.

6 4 Reply

I first heard this poem on the movie THE DEAD POETS SOCIETY.It mostly means don't waste time being fickle about love because those young and beauty blooming years are brief..make haste..Carpe Diem..

13 9 Reply
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Robert Herrick

Robert Herrick

London / England
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