Hello, readers! Today, I share with you one of the famous poems of classical poetry on the poetry form “seize the day”. To the Virgins, To Make Much of Time was written by poet, Robert Herrick and published in 1648 as part of Robert’s poetry collection, Hesperides.
Centered on the theme “Carpe diem“, many writers of late have embraced this form of poetry.
Carpe diem which translates as “Seize the day” intrigues one to take hold of opportunities and their life and aspire for greatness.
Through it, you’ll understand that that ‘you only live once‘ and you should endeavour to make the best out of every moment.
This poem was featured in the famous ‘Dead poets Society‘ movie which was released in 1989 starring Robin Williams as a literature teacher.
I hope you enjoy this classical 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
Tomorrow 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 forever tarry.
©1648, Poem #208, Hesperides, Robert Herrick.
ANALYSIS OF THE POEM
The poem is written in the quatrain style and in four stanzas making up a total of 16 lines. The poem is centred on the theme “seize the day”. It has a rhyme scheme of ABAB, CDCD, EFEF and GHGH. This makes it lyrical and enthusing to read as it lays a particular rhythm and sound.
Robert expressed his mastery of literature by using some of the key literary devices in the poem which includes, alliteration, personification and metaphor. Together, these conveys the persona’s plea easily to the reader.
The choice of title is aptly put as it at first sight, draws the reader closer. Starting the title with “To the Virgins”, means the poet is trying to convey a message to a group of people— the object (the Virgins). Then, what is it that he wants?
That, the Virgins, make the best out of time. While, virgin may represent feminine, it cuts across gender. It represents all people in their gayer stage of life.
He laid emphasis on virginity (tender age), beauty and time.
In stanza one, the poet brings to the notice of the reader who’s in the gayer stages of life to gather their rosebuds ( their potentials, their strength, their hard work, etc.). That is their preparatory kits. Because the bud is tender like virgins are and it is from the buds that the nodes form to grow to leaves and stems.
As the stem hardens, it won’t hold that totipotent quality again and can’t regenerate. And so, time comes, that as you are still a virgin, you’re filled with beauty, strength and catalyst for growth. This, you should utilize before you depreciate and can’t make up the past. Time, is important, seize the day.
He personified time as flying. So, whether or not you’ve heed to the message, time is indeed not your friend.
Then in the second stanza, the poet used the Sun to symbolize the youth ( the virgin in the poem). The sun is elegant in the sky and radiating. But as it keeps glowing and thrusting into the sky and moving along, it begins to diminishing and eventually sets. Similarly, as you are tough and strong in those gayer stages, you’re increasing in age, and definitely as age progresses, one gets older and weak.
As an Arab poet said that “The hair turns grey by the passage of day and night and the transitioning of seasons”
In stanza three, even though one has strength and should utilize it, when it is not used properly, when time flips, it will only go waste.
I propounded this saying in a poetic verse
“Let not your vision
Become an illusion
— of time”
Finally, the persona charges the reader to not be timid and sit effortless, but strive for the best. For when time isn’t utilized you only live to regret.
The use of virgin signifies how a lady is succulent and succinct in the virginity and tender stage with breast upright and every shape in form. So, like the rose flower, the breast will fall like the flower does. The beauty will soon dim. So equally your strength will not stay with you forever make the best.
There’s no time to waste.
Analysed by Abdul Hakim Genius ©2021.
Abdul Hakim Genius 
This is certainly one of the best appreciations of the poem you will come across.
Thanks for taking the time to do this and for sharing with us.
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Thank you for the great read, sage.
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I enjoyed reading this review, the theme of the peom is in line with the Japanese concept of Ikigai and wise saying “Ichi-go Ichi-e. Kudos
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Wow. Thank you for the read, ma’am. Thank you too for sharing the Japanese saying.
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