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To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time (Gather ye rosebuds)

by Robert Herrick

Home Poetry To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time (Gather ye rosebuds) Analysis Symbolism, Imagery, Wordplay

Intro The Poem Summary Analysis Themes Quotes Study Questions Best of the Web How to Read a Poem

Symbolism, Imagery, Wordplay
Flowers
The Sun
Temperature
Youth and Age

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To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time (Gather ye rosebuds) Symbolism, Imagery & Wordplay

There’s more to a poem than meets the eye.

Flowers

The entire first stanza of "To the Virgins" is about flowers. The speaker uses the flower's life cycle to emphasize the brevity (shortness) of human life and the importance of seizing opportunities...

The Sun

The entire second stanza of "To the Virgins" is about the sun's "race" (7) through the sky. The farther the sun progresses through the sky, the closer it is to setting. Likewise, the further one pr...

Temperature

Temperature is a powerful metaphor in this poem for youth, health, vigor, and the like.You know how when you first take something out of the microwave it's really hot? Now imagine human life as tha...

Youth and Age

In the third stanza, the speaker straight-up says that youth is the best time of life. This is partly because it is associated with life and health rather than death and sickness. Elsewhere in the...