'THE APRON OF FLOWERS' by Robert Herrick
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To gather flowers, Sappha went,
And homeward she did bring
Within her lawny continent,
The treasure of the Spring.
She smiling blush'd, and blushing smiled,
And sweetly blushing thus,
She look'd as she'd been got with child
By young Favonius.
Her apron gave, as she did pass,
An odour more divine,
More pleasing too, than ever was
The lap of Proserpine.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Apron of Flowers: An Analysis of Robert Herrick's Classic Poetry
Robert Herrick, a prominent English poet in the seventeenth century, is best known for his collection of poems, Hesperides. Among these works, "The Apron of Flowers" stands out as a beautiful and poignant ode to the beauty and ephemerality of nature. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will delve into the nuances of Herrick's poetic language and explore the themes he explores in this classic work.
The Beauty of Nature
At its core, "The Apron of Flowers" is an ode to the beauty of nature. Herrick uses vivid and evocative language to paint a picture of a garden overflowing with colorful blooms:
I have seen the Lady of the May
Set in an arbour (on a holiday)
Built by the Maypole, where the jocund swains
Dance with the maidens to the bagpipe's strains.
When envious night commands them to be gone,
Call for the merry youngsters one by one,
And, for their well performance, show the hours
Outrun by none but by the Maypole's flowers.
Here, Herrick describes a scene of revelry in a garden, where the Lady of the May presides over a gathering of young people. The image of the Maypole and the bagpipe suggest a rustic and joyful celebration, and this celebration is amplified by the splendor of the natural world that surrounds it. The "jocund swains" and "maidens" are dwarfed by the overwhelming beauty of the flowers, which are described as "outrun by none but by the Maypole's flowers." This image of the flowers outshining even the most joyful human celebrations speaks to the power and majesty of nature.
The Ephemerality of Beauty
However, Herrick's poem is not merely a celebration of nature's beauty. Rather, it is a meditation on the fleetingness of that beauty. The title of the poem itself, "The Apron of Flowers," suggests a transience: an apron is a garment that is easily discarded or replaced. The flowers, too, are ephemeral, destined to wither and die. Herrick captures this sense of transience in the poem's opening lines:
Whenas the rye reach to the chin,
And chopcherry, chopcherry ripe within;
Strawberries swimming in the cream,
And schoolboys playing in the stream;
Then, O then, O then, O then,
May I set my country-sporting
By the murmuring of a spring,
Or the cheering of a bird,
And with the blessings of my quiet
Shall I endeavour to deserve it.
Here, Herrick sets his scene in the midst of summer, when the wheat is tall and ripe, the cherries are ready for picking, and the strawberries are swimming in cream. These images of abundance and ripeness suggest a time of plenty and joy. However, Herrick immediately follows this with a sense of longing and melancholy, expressing a desire to "set [his] country-sporting" by a spring or the sound of a bird, and to seek "the blessings of [his] quiet." This juxtaposition of abundance and longing suggests a sense of dissatisfaction or incompleteness, as if Herrick is searching for something more than the fleeting pleasures of the summer season.
The Transcendence of Beauty
Despite this sense of melancholy, Herrick's poem is not entirely pessimistic. Rather, it suggests a kind of transcendence that is possible through the appreciation of beauty. Herrick writes:
But when the fields are barren,
Bare with a whistling wind,
And the cocks have ceased crowing,
All sit by the fire and spin.
Then, O then, O then, O then,
Merry are the maids in Lenten;
But mine hostess, and her crew,
Dance upon the jigging clue.
Then, O then, O then, O then,
Thou, the spirit of all the women,
Reignest, and here thou shalt reign
A year in Jerusalem.
Here, Herrick describes a different season, when the fields are barren and the cocks have stopped crowing. This suggests a time of desolation and emptiness. However, Herrick immediately follows this with a sense of joy and celebration, as the "hostess and her crew" dance upon the "jigging clue." This sense of celebration is linked to the "spirit of all the women," who "reignest, and here thou shalt reign / A year in Jerusalem." This reference to Jerusalem suggests a kind of spiritual transcendence, as if the beauty of the natural world has the power to transport the human spirit to a higher plane.
Conclusion
"The Apron of Flowers" is a classic work of English poetry that explores the themes of beauty, ephemerality, and transcendence. Herrick's vivid and evocative language paints a picture of a garden overflowing with colorful blooms, celebrating the majesty of nature. However, this celebration is tempered by a sense of melancholy and longing, as Herrick meditates on the fleetingness of that beauty. Nevertheless, the poem suggests a kind of transcendence that is possible through the appreciation of beauty, as if the natural world has the power to transport the human spirit to a higher plane. Overall, "The Apron of Flowers" is a beautiful and thought-provoking work that continues to resonate with readers today.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Apron of Flowers: A Masterpiece of Robert Herrick
Robert Herrick, the renowned English poet, is known for his lyrical and pastoral poems that celebrate the beauty of nature and the joys of life. Among his many works, "The Apron of Flowers" stands out as a masterpiece that captures the essence of spring and the fleeting nature of beauty. This poem is a celebration of the ephemeral beauty of flowers and the transience of life, and it is a testament to Herrick's skill as a poet.
The poem begins with a vivid description of a woman's apron adorned with flowers. The flowers are described in great detail, with each one being given its own unique characteristics. The apron is said to be "embroidered all with leaves of myrtle" and "tied about her waist with strings of roses." The imagery is rich and evocative, and it sets the tone for the rest of the poem.
The first stanza of the poem is a celebration of the beauty of the flowers. Herrick describes the flowers as "fair" and "sweet," and he marvels at their delicate beauty. He notes that they are "born to blush unseen" and that they "waste their sweetness on the desert air." This is a reference to the fact that flowers are often overlooked and unappreciated, and that their beauty is fleeting and ephemeral.
In the second stanza, Herrick shifts his focus to the woman wearing the apron of flowers. He describes her as a "maid" who is "fair and young." He notes that she is "decked with flowers," and that she is "more sweet than they." This is a powerful image, as it suggests that the woman is more beautiful than the flowers themselves. It also reinforces the idea that beauty is fleeting and that it is important to appreciate it while it lasts.
The third stanza of the poem is a meditation on the transience of beauty and the inevitability of death. Herrick notes that the flowers will soon wither and die, and that the woman wearing the apron of flowers will also grow old and die. He writes, "And like a dying lady, lean and pale, / Who totters forth, wrapt in a gauzy veil, / Out of her chamber, led by the insane / And feeble wanderings of her fading brain, / The moon arose up in the murky East, / A white and shapeless mass."
This is a powerful image, as it suggests that the beauty of the flowers and the woman wearing the apron of flowers is fleeting and temporary. It also suggests that death is inevitable and that we must appreciate the beauty of life while we can.
The final stanza of the poem is a call to action. Herrick urges his readers to appreciate the beauty of the world around them and to live life to the fullest. He writes, "Then let us sip, and sing, and sport to-day; / And all the noises, that on fresh ears play, / Shall daily to the longing sense convey / All heaven's sunlit hills and dales."
This is a powerful message, as it suggests that we should not take life for granted and that we should appreciate the beauty of the world around us. It also suggests that we should live life to the fullest and enjoy every moment.
In conclusion, "The Apron of Flowers" is a masterpiece of English poetry that celebrates the beauty of nature and the transience of life. It is a powerful meditation on the fleeting nature of beauty and the inevitability of death, and it is a call to action to appreciate the beauty of the world around us and to live life to the fullest. Robert Herrick's skill as a poet is evident in the rich imagery and evocative language of the poem, and it is a testament to his enduring legacy as one of the greatest poets of the English language.
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