Go, lovely rose – Edmund Waller
Go, lovely Rose,
Tell her that wastes her time and me,
That now she knows,
When I resemble her to thee,
How sweet and fair she seems to be.
Tell her that's young,
And shuns to have her graces spied,
That hadst thou sprung
In deserts where no men abide,
Thou must have uncommended died.
Small is the worth
Of beauty from the light retired:
Bid her come forth,
Suffer her self to be desired,
And not blush so to be admired.
Then die, that she
The common fate of all things rare
May read in thee,
How small a part of time they share,
That are so wondrous sweet and faire.
, Analysis
"Go, Lovely Rose" by Edmund Waller is a carpe diem poem that employs a rose as a
symbol of beauty to convey a sense of urgency and the ephemeral nature of life. The
speaker implores the lovely rose to deliver a message to a woman who is wasting her
time and his. He praises the woman's beauty, comparing it to the rose, and encourages
her to embrace her beauty and not be shy about being admired. The poem underscores
the fleeting nature of beauty and life, reminding us that even the most beautiful things
will eventually succumb to the common fate of death, urging us to seize the pleasures
and appreciate beauty while it lasts.
The opening line, "Go, lovely Rose," immediately
captivates the reader's attention with its direct
address to a rose. This line serves as the poem's
invitation, signaling a compelling narrative or
1. Go, lovely Rose, message about to unfold, as well as establishing
the rose as a central symbol and subject of the
poem, representing beauty and delicate allure.
The simplicity of this initial line, containing just
four words, reflects the brevity of life and
beauty, which the poem will later explore, making
it a poignant and effective introduction to the
overarching theme of carpe diem (seize the day)
and the transient nature of existence.
The second line, "Tell her that wastes her time and
me," continues the narrative, expanding on the
purpose of the message delivered by the rose.
It reveals the speaker's frustration with
2. Tell her that wastes her time and someone who is squandering both their own time
and the speaker's time, indicating a sense of
me, urgency and an underlying desire for a change in
behavior or attitude. This line sets the stage for
a message of admonishment or encouragement
to make the most of the present moment and not
to waste valuable time, connecting with the
overarching theme of seizing the fleeting
opportunities of life.
In the third line, "That now she knows," the poem
introduces a crucial shift in the narrative. It
suggests that the woman, who was previously
unaware of something, has now come to some
form of realization. This revelation indicates a
potential turning point in the poem, where the
3. That now she knows, message delivered through the rose may lead to
a change or awakening in the woman's
perspective or actions. This line adds an element
of anticipation and change, raising questions
about the impact of the forthcoming message
and the speaker's intentions in delivering it. It
also underscores the idea that knowledge and
self-awareness are essential in making the most
of life's opportunities.
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