Gather Ye Rosebuds

A detailed Summary of Gather Ye Rosebuds

It is a blessing to those who live today that over the year's men and women have written poetry. In some poetry have been words reminding those who read it of the wonderful world in which they breathe and the necessity to live life. One of the writers of such poetry was Robert Herrick. Herrick used a lyrical style, unappreciated in his day, to write poetry that captured the very essence of carpe diem-to seize the day. Many of his poems were published in a volume entitled Hesperides. The most famous of those poems, is "To the Virgins, to make much of Time." By examining the work of Herrick-"To the Virgins" in particular, his life, and the times he lived in its possible to gain a greater appreciation and understanding of what he was writing about. Specifically the purpose is to examine how Herrick's use of imagery with his words contributes to the lyricism of the poems.

And this same flower that smiles today

The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun,

That age is best which is the first,

How Roses first came Red, and Lillies White.

It is worth noting that even in a poem the length of "To the Virgins" that each of the stanzas could legitimately hold up as individual poems.

J.B. Broadbent wrote in an essay for the Times Literary Supplement, "the world of poetry can never forget the work of (Robert) Herrick. His use of visual imagery, in connection with ballads so central to his work, make him a figure of utmost importance.(p. 836)". If the idea of less is more is correct then the numerous short poems of Herrick remain a significant contribution to everyone who reads poetry. In his words are the reminders to seize the day and to notice the beauty in life-such as the flowers and the colors. By using a style of lyricism made potent by sharp visual imagery, Herrick was able to say a great deal about the wonderful world in which he lived and breathed.

The first poem in Hesperides is "The Argument of his Book." This poem shows what Herrick is able to do with the imagery. With his words he is able to write about the idea of death. T.G.S. Cain points this out in the following quote taken from an essay he wrote dealing exclusively with the way Herrick continually brings the passage of time up in his poems. "Of all the subjects to which he draws attention in the introductory poem to Hesperides, "The Argument of his Book," none so dominates Herrick's work as the one which he calls there 'Times trans-shifting.' It is a subject to which he returns again and again in his attempt to come to terms with the inevitability of human transience and death.(103)"

I sing of Times trans-shifting, and I write

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Approximate Word count = 1213
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English