Analysis of To a gentlewoman, objecting to him hisgray hairs

Robert Herrick 1591 (London) – 1674 (Dean Prior)



Am I despised, because you say;
And I dare swear, that I am gray?
Know, Lady, you have but your day!
And time will come when you shall wear
Such frost and snow upon your hair;
And when, though long, it comes to pass,
You question with your looking-glass,
And in that sincere crystal seek
But find no rose-bud in your cheek,
Nor any bed to give the shew
Where such a rare carnation grew:-
Ah!  then too late, close in your chamber keeping,
It will be told
That you are old,--
By those true tears you're weeping.


Scheme AAABBCCDDEEFGGF
Poetic Form Tetractys  (27%)
Metre 11010111 01111111 11011111 01111111 11010111 01111111 11011101 00101101 11111011 11011101 11010101 11111011010 1111 1111 1111110
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 504
Words 102
Sentences 5
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 15
Lines Amount 15
Letters per line (avg) 26
Words per line (avg) 7
Letters per stanza (avg) 387
Words per stanza (avg) 99
Font size:
 

Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

30 sec read
98

Robert Herrick

Robert Herrick was born in London, England, in 1591. He was apprenticed to a goldsmith (his uncle, Sir William), but went to Cambridge, at St John's, in 1613. He was ordained at Peterborough in 1623 and became chaplain to the Duke of Buckingham a few years later. "Hesperides" - a collection of 1200 lyrical poems - was published in 1648 and it remained his magnum opus. Herrick died in 1674, aged 83. more…

All Robert Herrick poems | Robert Herrick Books

5 fans

Discuss this Robert Herrick poem analysis with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add this poem analysis to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "To a gentlewoman, objecting to him hisgray hairs" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 9 Jun 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/31423/to-a-gentlewoman%2C-objecting-to-him-hisgray-hairs>.

    Become a member!

    Join our community of poets and poetry lovers to share your work and offer feedback and encouragement to writers all over the world!

    June 2024

    Poetry Contest

    Join our monthly contest for an opportunity to win cash prizes and attain global acclaim for your talent.
    21
    days
    10
    hours
    13
    minutes

    Special Program

    Earn Rewards!

    Unlock exciting rewards such as a free mug and free contest pass by commenting on fellow members' poems today!

    Browse Poetry.com

    Quiz

    Are you a poetry master?

    »
    What is the term for the continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line, couplet, or stanza.
    A Line break
    B Enjambment
    C A turn
    D Dithyramb