Poet
Robert Herrick
English poet · 1591–1674
To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time
Robert Herrick, a country vicar, wrote over 2,500 poems celebrating blossoms, brides, cider, and the shortness of life. He is the great poet of carpe diem — seize the day.
"To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time" opens with the most famous gather-ye-rosebuds advice in the language and has been quoted at graduations (and in Dead Poets Society) ever since.
58 poems by Robert Herrick
Full text, free to read — all in the public domain.
- To the Virgins, to Make Much of TimeGather ye rosebuds while ye may,…16 lines
- A Christmas Carol, Sung to the King in the Presence at White-HallChorus.…44 lines
- A Dialogue Betwixt Himself and Mistress Elizawheeler, Under the Name of AmarillisMy dearest Love, since thou wilt go,…24 lines
- A Lyric to MirthWhile the milder fates consent,…14 lines
- A Thanksgiving to God for His HouseLord, Thou hast given me a cell…58 lines
- An Epitaph Upon a ChildVirgins promised when I died,…6 lines
- An Ode to Master Endymion Porter, Upon His Brother's DeathNot all thy flushing suns are set,…28 lines
- Another Grace For A ChildHere a little child I stand…6 lines
- Art Above Nature: to JuliaWhen I behold a forest spread…18 lines
- Comfort to a Youth That Had Lost His LoveWhat needs complaints,…24 lines
- Farewell Frost, or Welcome SpringFled are the frosts, and now the fields appear…22 lines
- His Mistress to Him at His FarewellYou may vow I'll not forget…16 lines
- His Prayer For AbsolutionFor those my unbaptized rhymes,…10 lines
- His Prayer To Ben JonsonWhen I a verse shall make,…12 lines
- How Springs Came FirstThese springs were maidens once that loved,…8 lines
- Life Is the Body's LightLife is the body's light; which, once declining,…6 lines
- Loss from the LeastGreat men by small means oft are overthrown;…2 lines
- Matins, or Morning PrayerWhen with the virgin morning thou dost rise,…8 lines
- Mrs Eliz: Wheeler, Under the Name of Thelost ShepherdessAmong the myrtles as I walk'd…22 lines
- No Fault in WomenNo fault in women, to refuse…16 lines
- Peace Not PermanentGreat cities seldom rest; if there be none…2 lines
- Soft MusicThe mellow touch of music most doth wound…2 lines
- The Apron of FlowersTo gather flowers, Sappha went,…12 lines
- The Ceremonies for Candlemas DayKindle the Christmas brand, and then…8 lines
- The Country LifeTO THE HONOURED MR ENDYMION PORTER, GROOM OF…78 lines
- The Definition of BeautyBeauty no other thing is, than a beam…2 lines
- The Funeral Rites of the RoseThe Rose was sick, and smiling died;…16 lines
- The Hock-cart, or Harvest HomeTo the Right Honourable Mildmay, Earl of Westmoreland…56 lines
- The Old Wives' PrayerHoly-Rood, come forth and shield…8 lines
- The Parliament of Roses to JuliaI dreamt the Roses one time went…10 lines
- The PrimroseAsk me why I send you here…12 lines
- The Succession of the Four Sweet MonthsFirst, April, she with mellow showers…8 lines
- Time was uponWrinkles no more are, or no less,…2 lines
- To a Gentlewoman, Objecting to Him Hisgray HairsAm I despised, because you say;…15 lines
- To Enjoy the TimeWhile fates permit us, let's be merry;…4 lines
- To HeavenOpen thy gates…8 lines
- To His Dying Brother, Master William HerrickLife of my life, take not so soon thy flight,…20 lines
- To his GirlsWanton wenches do not bring…4 lines
- To His Kinswoman, Mistress Susanna HerrickWhen I consider, dearest, thou dost stay…6 lines
- To His Saviour, a Child;a Present, by a ChildGo, pretty child, and bear this flower…18 lines
- To MusicBegin to charm, and as thou strok'st mine ears…6 lines
- To Music: a SongMusic, thou queen of heaven, care-charming spell,…6 lines
- To Music, to Becalm a Sweet Sick YouthCharms, that call down the moon from out her sphere,…8 lines
- To Music, to Becalm His FeverCharm me asleep, and melt me so…33 lines
- To Primroses Filled with Morning DewWhy do ye weep, sweet babes? can tears…28 lines
- To the Lady Crewe, Upon the Death of Her ChildWhy, Madam, will ye longer weep,…8 lines
- To the Rose: SongGo, happy Rose, and interwove…15 lines
- To the Water-nymphs Drinking at ThefountainReach with your whiter hands to me…8 lines
- To the Willow-treeThou art to all lost love the best,…16 lines
- Upon a ChildHere a pretty baby lies…4 lines
- Upon a Child That DiedHere she lies, a pretty bud,…6 lines
- Upon a Painted GentlewomanMen say you're fair; and fair ye are, 'tis true;…2 lines
- Upon His Sister-in-law, Mistress ElizabethherrickFirst, for effusions due unto the dead,…4 lines
- Upon Mrs Eliz. Wheeler, Under the Name OfamarillisSweet Amarillis, by a spring's…12 lines
- Upon RosesUnder a lawn, than skies more clear,…10 lines
- Upon the Loss of His MistressesI have lost, and lately, these…14 lines
- Why Flowers Change ColourThese fresh beauties, we can prove,…4 lines
- Delight in DisorderDelight in Disorder. Alfred Pollard, ed. 1898. The Hesperides & Noble Numbers.…2 lines