‘To His Coy Mistress’
Andrew Marvell
Had we but world enough and time,
This coyness, lady, were no crime.
We would sit down, and think which way
To walk, and pass our long love’s day.
Thou by the Indian Ganges’ side
Shouldst rubies find; I by the tide
Of Humber would complain. I would
Love you ten years before the flood,
And you should, if you please, refuse
Till the conversion of the Jews.
My vegetable love should grow
Vaster than empires and more slow;
An hundred years should go to praise
Thine eyes, and on thy forehead gaze;
Two hundred to adore each breast,
But thirty thousand to the rest;
An age at least to every part,
And the last age should show your heart.
For, lady, you deserve this state,
Nor would I love at lower rate.
But at my back I always hear
Time’s wingèd chariot hurrying near;
And yonder all before us lie
Deserts of vast eternity.
Thy beauty shall no more be found;
Nor, in thy marble vault, shall sound
My echoing song; then worms shall try
That long-preserved virginity,
And your quaint honour turn to dust,
And into ashes all my lust;
The grave’s a fine and private place,
But none, I think, do there embrace.
Now therefore, while the youthful hue
Sits on thy skin like morning dew,
And while thy willing soul transpires
At every pore with instant fires,
Now let us sport us while we may,
And now, like amorous birds of prey,
Rather at once our time devour
Than languish in his slow-chapped power.
Let us roll all our strength and all
Our sweetness up into one ball,
And tear our pleasures with rough strife
Through the iron gates of life:
Thus, though we cannot make our sun
Stand still, yet we will make him run.
Wonderful poem. Life is indeed too short for coyness 😉
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Isn’t it? I first read it during my days of studying English literature and it was love straightaway. The irony is remarkable.
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I love that poem – thank you for reminding me. Andrew Marvel has such a wonderfully fortuitous name, I always think! Xx
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It is indeed. But of course you would like it! 🙂 Have a wonderful Sunday xx
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Oh, nostalgia. I also read this whole studying English lit. It’s a beautifully written poem with a strong message. Don’t waste time. We will all be wishing for more, as we already do now, right?
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Always Lyz 🙂 And why not? There’s just this one to make demands from xx
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Oooh! How nostalgic to read this one after ages! I have always wanted to venture into poetry writing but alas! have tried many times and….. failed miserably. Will make another attempt at it someday soon. Sigh! Hope you had a great weekend! :*
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Thank you Mallika 🙂 I did have a busy weekend all about setting up home. Hah, put out some of your poetry out there. You may never know if you have been too harsh on the self xx
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