Auteur: Francis Turner Palgrave

Robert Herrick (baptized 24 August 1591 – buried 15 October 1674) was a distinguished 17th-century English lyric poet and cleric. Renowned for his rich and vibrant use of language and the sensual themes woven throughout his work, Herrick”s poetry is marked by its playful grace, and he is often considered one of the most important poets of the Cavalier tradition. Herrick”s only book of poems, “Hesperides” (1648), is a voluminous anthology of lyrical poetry reflective of the human experience and emotions. “A Selection from the Lyrical Poems of Robert Herrick” offers readers an insight into his mastery of the short lyrical form. Notably, “His Noble Numbers, ” also published during Herrick”s lifetime, featured religious poems showcasing a different facet of his literary style. Herrick”s career as a vicar and his life in rural England deeply influenced his writings. Embracing both the joyousness of life and the inevitability of death, Herrick”s approach to poetry was akin to the carpe diem philosophy, urging readers to seize the day and appreciate the transient beauty of life. His well-known poem “To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time” embodies this sentiment, exhorting youth to cherish and utilize their time wisely. Folk themes and classical references also typify his poetry, providing a vivid panorama of the era”s social and literary landscapes. In modern times, Herrick”s poetry remains celebrated for its lyrical beauty, emotional honesty, and quintessential representation of 17th-century English pastoral and epigrammatic verse.