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.
(Robert Herrick)
More Poetry from Robert Herrick:
Robert Herrick Poems based on Topics: Time, Death & Dying, Heaven, Age, Running- A Pastoral upon the birth of Prince Charles: presented to the King (Robert Herrick Poems)
- His Litany, To The Holy Spirit (Robert Herrick Poems)
- His Winding-shee (Robert Herrick Poems)
- The Captiv'd Bee; Or, The Little Filcher (Robert Herrick Poems)
- The Beggar to Mab, The Queen Fairy (Robert Herrick Poems)
- A CONJURATION: TO ELECTRA (Robert Herrick Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: Time Poems, Death & Dying Poems, Heaven Poems, Age Poems, Running PoemsBased on Keywords: tarry, succeed, rosebuds, a-flying, a-getting