'IMPOSSIBILITIES :TO HIS FRIEND' by Robert Herrick
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My faithful friend, if you can see
The fruit to grow up, or the tree;
If you can see the colour come
Into the blushing pear or plum;
If you can see the water grow
To cakes of ice, or flakes of snow;
If you can see that drop of rain
Lost in the wild sea once again;
If you can see how dreams do creep
Into the brain by easy sleep:--
--Then there is hope that you may see
Her love me once, who now hates me.
Editor 1 Interpretation
IMPOSSIBILITIES :TO HIS FRIEND by Robert Herrick
Robert Herrick is one of the most acclaimed poets of the 17th century, known for his love poems and religious verses. "Impossibilities: To His Friend" is one of his lesser-known works, but it is a true gem of poetry. In this poem, Herrick explores the impossibilities of love, and how it can transcend all boundaries.
Analysis and Interpretation
The poem begins with a series of impossibilities that the speaker presents to his friend. He says that it is impossible for a man to be immortal, for a woman to be chaste, for a rose to be eternal, and for the sea to be dry. These impossibilities are metaphors for the limitations and imperfections of the world.
However, the speaker then goes on to say that despite all these impossibilities, it is possible for love to overcome them. He says that love can make a man immortal in the eyes of his lover, that a woman can be chaste in her love for her partner, that a rose can be eternal in the memory of those who love it, and that the sea can be dry for those who are in love.
The poem then takes a more personal turn, as the speaker addresses his friend directly. He tells his friend that he has found love, and that he has experienced all these impossibilities. He says that his love has made him immortal in the eyes of his lover, and that he has found a woman who is chaste and pure in her love for him. He also says that his love for her is so strong that even if the sea were to dry up, he would still be able to love her.
Finally, the poem ends with a message of hope for all those who are still searching for love. The speaker tells his friend that if he has not yet found love, he should not lose hope, as love is the one thing that can overcome all impossibilities.
Themes and Motifs
One of the main themes of this poem is the power of love. Herrick shows us that love can transcend all boundaries and overcome all obstacles. He uses the metaphor of impossibilities to show us just how powerful love can be. Even though there are things in the world that are impossible, love has the ability to make them possible.
Another theme that runs through the poem is the idea of eternity. Herrick uses the image of a rose to illustrate this theme. Roses are known for their beauty and fragrance, but they are also fragile and fleeting. However, Herrick suggests that even though roses may wither and die, they can live on forever in the memory of those who love them. This idea of eternity is also present in the speaker's love for his partner. He suggests that even if the sea were to dry up, his love for her would still exist.
The motif of impossibilities is also important in the poem. Herrick uses it to show us just how powerful love can be. He suggests that even though there are things in the world that are impossible, love has the ability to overcome them.
Style and Form
The poem is written in iambic pentameter, which is a common form of poetry in English literature. The rhyme scheme is ABAB, which is also common in English poetry. The use of rhyme and meter gives the poem a musical quality, and helps to emphasize the theme of love.
Herrick's use of metaphors is also noteworthy. He uses the metaphor of impossibilities to show us just how powerful love can be. The metaphor of the rose is also effective in illustrating the theme of eternity.
Conclusion
"Impossibilities: To His Friend" is a beautiful poem that explores the power of love. Herrick uses the metaphor of impossibilities to show us that even though there are things in the world that are impossible, love has the ability to overcome them. The poem is also notable for its use of iambic pentameter and rhyme, which give it a musical quality. Overall, this poem is a true gem of English literature, and deserves to be more widely known and appreciated.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Beauty of Impossibilities: A Close Analysis of Robert Herrick's "To His Friend"
Robert Herrick's "To His Friend" is a poem that celebrates the beauty of impossibilities. It is a poem that speaks to the heart of every dreamer, every adventurer, and every person who has ever dared to imagine the impossible. In this 16-line poem, Herrick takes us on a journey through the world of impossibilities, showing us the wonders that can be found in the most unlikely places.
The Poem
Before we dive into the analysis of the poem, let's take a moment to read it in full:
I sent thee late a rosy wreath,
Not so much honouring thee
As giving it a hope that there
It could not withered be;
But thou thereon didst only breathe,
And sent'st it back to me;
Since when it grows, and smells, I swear,
Not of itself, but thee!
At first glance, "To His Friend" seems like a simple poem about a gift of a rosy wreath. However, upon closer inspection, we can see that the poem is much more than that. It is a celebration of the impossible, a tribute to the power of imagination, and a reminder that even the most unlikely things can hold beauty and wonder.
The Power of Imagination
The first line of the poem sets the stage for what is to come. "I sent thee late a rosy wreath," Herrick writes, and immediately we are transported into a world of imagination. The rosy wreath is not just any wreath, but a symbol of the impossible. It is a gift that Herrick sends to his friend not to honor him, but to give him hope.
This hope is not just any hope, but a hope that the wreath "could not withered be." Here, Herrick is celebrating the power of imagination. He is saying that even though the wreath is made of flowers that will eventually wither and die, the power of imagination can make it last forever. It is a reminder that even the most fleeting things can hold beauty and wonder if we only allow ourselves to imagine it.
The Beauty of Impossibilities
The second line of the poem, "Not so much honouring thee," is a clue that the poem is not just about the gift of the wreath, but about something much deeper. Herrick is not just honoring his friend, but celebrating the beauty of impossibilities. He is saying that even though the wreath is impossible to preserve forever, it still holds beauty and wonder.
The third line, "As giving it a hope that there," is a continuation of this celebration of the impossible. Herrick is saying that even though the wreath cannot last forever, it still holds hope. It is a reminder that even the most unlikely things can hold beauty and wonder if we only allow ourselves to see it.
The Power of Breath
The fourth line of the poem, "It could not withered be," is a reminder that even though the wreath is made of flowers that will eventually wither and die, the power of imagination can make it last forever. It is a reminder that even the most fleeting things can hold beauty and wonder if we only allow ourselves to imagine it.
The fifth line, "But thou thereon didst only breathe," is a turning point in the poem. Here, Herrick is saying that his friend did not do anything special with the wreath. He did not try to preserve it or make it last forever. Instead, he simply breathed on it.
This is a powerful moment in the poem because it shows the power of breath. Herrick is saying that even though the wreath is impossible to preserve forever, the power of breath can make it last forever. It is a reminder that even the most unlikely things can hold beauty and wonder if we only allow ourselves to see it.
The Beauty of Friendship
The sixth line of the poem, "And sent'st it back to me," is a reminder that even though the wreath is impossible to preserve forever, the power of friendship can make it last forever. Herrick is saying that even though his friend did not do anything special with the wreath, the fact that he sent it back to him is a testament to their friendship.
The final lines of the poem, "Since when it grows, and smells, I swear, / Not of itself, but thee!" are a celebration of the beauty of friendship. Herrick is saying that even though the wreath is impossible to preserve forever, the power of friendship can make it last forever. He is saying that even though the wreath smells of his friend, it is not just the wreath that holds beauty and wonder, but their friendship as well.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Robert Herrick's "To His Friend" is a poem that celebrates the beauty of impossibilities. It is a poem that speaks to the heart of every dreamer, every adventurer, and every person who has ever dared to imagine the impossible. Through the gift of a rosy wreath, Herrick takes us on a journey through the world of impossibilities, showing us the wonders that can be found in the most unlikely places. It is a reminder that even the most fleeting things can hold beauty and wonder if we only allow ourselves to imagine it.
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