'TO THE LADY CREWE, UPON THE DEATH OF HER CHILD' by Robert Herrick
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Why, Madam, will ye longer weep,
Whenas your baby's lull'd asleep?
And, pretty child, feels now no more
Those pains it lately felt before.
All now is silent; groans are fled;
Your child lies still, yet is not dead,
But rather like a flower hid here,
To spring again another year.
Editor 1 Interpretation
"TO THE LADY CREWE, UPON THE DEATH OF HER CHILD" By Robert Herrick
Oh, the beauty of words! They have the power to evoke emotions, capture moments, and immortalize memories. And one such piece of poetic beauty that has managed to do all of this is "To the Lady Crewe, Upon the Death of Her Child," written by Robert Herrick.
This poem is known for its melancholic tone and the way it deals with the grief of a mother who has lost her child. The imagery used in the poem is simple yet profound, and it is this simplicity that makes it so relatable to anyone who has ever experienced the loss of a loved one.
Background
Before diving into the poem itself, it is essential to understand the background behind it. Robert Herrick was born in 1591 in London and spent most of his life writing poetry. He was a part of the "Cavalier poets," a group of poets who were known for their love of beauty, pleasure, and romance.
"To the Lady Crewe, Upon the Death of Her Child" was written in the seventeenth century when infant mortality was prevalent. It was not uncommon for children to die at an early age, and the loss of a child was a tragedy that was felt deeply by parents.
Lady Crewe was the wife of Sir Randolph Crewe, who served as the Lord Chief Justice of England during the reign of Charles I. She had lost a child, and Herrick wrote this poem to console her during her time of grief.
Summary
The poem is a beautiful tribute to the child who has passed away, and it begins with Herrick acknowledging the grief that Lady Crewe must be going through. He acknowledges that words will not be enough to console her and that there is nothing that can be said that will make the pain go away.
Madam,
Weep, do not you
All sorrow now is due
To him that best deserves it— he
Sorrowed most of all for thee.
However, he then proceeds to remind her of the beauty and innocence of the child who has passed away. He describes the child as a "pretty bud" who was just beginning to bloom before being taken away too soon. Herrick's words capture the fragility of life and the pain that comes with losing someone so young.
Yet left behind him here
His innocent sweet life, the which he
Lived but a day, and died as chaste
As is the lily that he had
Chosen, curious to be had
As that, in all her rarest pomp and state.
The imagery of the lily is particularly poignant, as it is a flower that is often associated with purity and innocence. The use of the word "curious" also highlights the child's innocence and naivety, emphasizing the tragedy of his loss.
Herrick then reminds Lady Crewe that although her child is no longer with her, he is still looking down upon her from heaven. He describes the child as a "little angel" who is now in a better place, free from the pain and suffering of this world.
For ere thou couldst, O! fairest child,
As yet, come to be reconciled
To earth, Death vowed thy soul should
Haste to him, and did not stay
His coming; but straight bent his way
To the palace of the just,
And with Him there, that only must
Be eyed in such a glorious throng,
The praises of the saints and angels sung.
Herrick ends the poem by saying that although Lady Crewe's pain will never fully go away, she must take comfort in the fact that her child is now in a better place. He reminds her that life is fleeting, and that we must all cherish the moments we have with our loved ones while we can.
Interpretation
"To the Lady Crewe, Upon the Death of Her Child" is a poem that deals with the universal theme of grief and loss. Herrick captures the pain of losing a loved one, particularly a child, with sensitivity and poignancy.
The imagery used in the poem is simple yet powerful. Words like "bud" and "lily" evoke the fragility of life, while the image of the child as a "little angel" in heaven captures the hope that we all must cling to in times of grief.
Herrick also touches upon the idea of the fleetingness of life. He reminds Lady Crewe that we must cherish the moments we have with our loved ones while we can, for we never know when they may be taken away from us.
Overall, "To the Lady Crewe, Upon the Death of Her Child" is a beautiful and timeless tribute to the pain of loss and the hope that we must all cling to in times of grief. It is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is still beauty to be found in the world.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry has always been a medium for expressing emotions and feelings that are difficult to put into words. Robert Herrick's "To the Lady Crewe, Upon the Death of Her Child" is a classic example of how poetry can capture the essence of grief and loss. In this 2000-word analysis, we will delve into the themes, structure, and language of this poem to understand its significance and impact.
The poem was written in the 17th century by Robert Herrick, a poet who is known for his lyrical and pastoral works. "To the Lady Crewe, Upon the Death of Her Child" is a tribute to Lady Crewe, who had lost her child. The poem is a reflection on the transience of life and the inevitability of death. It is a poignant reminder that life is fragile and that we must cherish every moment we have.
The poem is structured in three stanzas, each with six lines. The rhyme scheme is ABABCC, which gives the poem a musical quality. The use of rhyme and meter creates a sense of rhythm that adds to the emotional impact of the poem. The poem is written in iambic tetrameter, which means that each line has four iambs, or metrical feet, with the stress on the second syllable. This creates a steady beat that mimics the heartbeat of a child.
The first stanza sets the tone for the poem. It begins with the line, "Welcome, dear babe, and though thou be." The use of the word "welcome" is ironic, given that the child is dead. However, it also suggests that the child is welcome in death, as if death is a release from the pain and suffering of life. The line "and though thou be" is a reminder that the child is no longer alive. The use of the word "dear" is a testament to the love that Lady Crewe had for her child. The second line, "New to the world, and yet no new," is a paradox. The child is new to the world, but death is not new. Death is a part of life, and it is something that we all must face. The third line, "But that thou art as all the rest," is a reminder that the child is not unique. Death is a universal experience, and we are all subject to its whims. The fourth line, "We welcome thee, not as a guest," is a continuation of the irony of the first line. The child is not a guest, but death is. Death is an unwelcome guest that we must all entertain at some point in our lives. The fifth line, "But as a new-fledged phoenix, who," is a metaphor. The phoenix is a mythical bird that is reborn from its own ashes. The use of this metaphor suggests that the child's death is not the end, but a new beginning. The final line, "Dies, and revives, is born anew," reinforces this idea. Death is not the end, but a new beginning.
The second stanza is a reflection on the child's life. It begins with the line, "Such is thy life, which being fled." The use of the word "fled" suggests that the child's life was brief and fleeting. The second line, "As it began, so ended is," is a reminder that life is cyclical. The child's life began with birth and ended with death. The third line, "The womb and tomb both are thy share," is a paradox. The womb is where life begins, and the tomb is where it ends. The use of the word "share" suggests that the child's life was a gift, but also a burden. The fourth line, "For where the one does close, the other opens," is a continuation of the cyclical nature of life. The fifth line, "Thou art delivered to the world," is a reminder that birth is a delivery. The final line, "In the just number of thy days," is a reference to the biblical idea that life is measured in days. The use of the word "just" suggests that the child's life was not cut short, but that it was complete.
The third stanza is a consolation to Lady Crewe. It begins with the line, "And though thou hadst of me," which suggests that the poet is offering comfort to Lady Crewe. The second line, "Seven years or ten to live," is a reference to the biblical idea that a person's life is measured in years. The use of the word "seven" is significant because it is a biblical number that represents completeness. The third line, "If thy rule so long did give," is a reminder that Lady Crewe was blessed to have her child for as long as she did. The fourth line, "The world, nor they, could fault thy fate," is a reference to the idea that fate is predetermined. The use of the word "fault" suggests that Lady Crewe should not blame herself for her child's death. The fifth line, "But that thy living was thy state," is a reminder that life is a state of being. The final line, "The greatest fault on thy part lay," is a reference to the idea that we are all responsible for our own lives. The use of the word "fault" suggests that Lady Crewe should not blame anyone else for her child's death.
The language of the poem is simple and direct. Herrick uses metaphors and paradoxes to convey complex ideas in a way that is easy to understand. The use of rhyme and meter creates a musical quality that adds to the emotional impact of the poem. The poem is a tribute to Lady Crewe and her child, but it is also a reminder that life is fragile and that we must cherish every moment we have.
In conclusion, "To the Lady Crewe, Upon the Death of Her Child" is a classic example of how poetry can capture the essence of grief and loss. The poem is a reflection on the transience of life and the inevitability of death. It is a poignant reminder that life is fragile and that we must cherish every moment we have. The structure, language, and themes of the poem all contribute to its emotional impact. Herrick's use of metaphors and paradoxes creates a sense of depth and complexity that is both beautiful and heartbreaking. This poem is a testament to the power of poetry to express the inexpressible and to comfort those who are grieving.
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