Gather Ye Rosebuds While Ye May, 1908
John William Waterhouse
Oil on canvas

Gather Ye Rosebuds While Ye May is an oil painting on canvas created in 1908 by British Pre-Raphaelite artist, John William Waterhouse. It was the first of two paintings inspired by the 17th century poem “To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time” by the English poet, Robert Herrick:

To The Virgins, to Make Much of Time
by Robert Herrick (1591-1674)

Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,
Old Time is still a-flying;
And this same flower that smiles today,
To-morrow will be dying.

The glorious lamp of heaven, the Sun,
The higher he’s a-getting;
The sooner will his race be run,
And nearer he’s to setting.

That age is best, which is the first,
When youth and blood are warmer;
But being spent, the worse, and worst
Times still succeed the former.

Then be not coy, but use your time,
And while ye may, go marry;
For having lost but once your prime,
You may for ever tarry.

Right: Gather Ye Rosebuds While Ye may, 1909, by John William Waterhouse, the second painting inspired by the poem of Robert Herrick.

Hello, and welcome back to Poetry Wednesday 3/25/09. You can sign in today and take the tour thru Thursday, so take your time.

I’ll be your hostess again this week. My sister, Sans Souci, is on a break, putting together her own poetry book, but she will check in.

Before we get started, please make sure that your post has a link to get back to this page to make it easier to take the tour:

1) Copy and paste the following link that I have provided for you from this page to somewhere on your poetry post.

Link back to the Poetry Wednesday tour on Laurita’s page

2) Leave the link of your poetry post in the comments section below. This is the link guests will click on to read your poem (see my post below as an example).

Left: The Soul of a Rose, 1908, another masterpiece by John William Waterhouse.

The over-riding message of Robert Herrick’s work is that life is short, the world is beautiful, love is splendid, and we must use the short time we have to make the most of it. This message can be seen clearly in To the Virgins, to make much of Time, To Daffodils, To Blossoms and Corinna going a-Maying, where the warmth and exuberance of what seems to have been a kindly and jovial personality comes over strongly.

I picked this rose in Sans Souci’s garden.

Let’s start the tour there !

Music – Galliard – Peter Fletcher
Photography – Sans Souci
Artwork – John William Waterhouse
Biography for Robert Herrick was obtained from Wikipedia

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Mar 23, ’09 I feel like spring ! http://lauritasita.multiply.com/journal/item/1230/Poetry_Wednesday_032509_A_Prayer_in_Spring

deletereply sugarpiehuny wrote on Mar 23, ’09, edited on Mar 23, ’09 Love your page again! You do should a great page.. Thank You! http://sugarpiehuny.multiply.com/journal/item/149/The_Spring_of_Life

deletereply starfishred wrote on Mar 23, ’09 WONDERFUL LAURITA http://starfishred.multiply.com/journal/item/1217/POETRY_WEDNESDAY-DISPOSSESSED

deletereply skeezicks1957 wrote on Mar 23, ’09 What a wonderful message to start the week. Yes, life is short and lets make the most of it. Starting with enjoying this host page. Great job again this week Laurita! http://skeezicks1957.multiply.com/journal/item/667/Poetry_Wednesday_031809

deletereply billatplay wrote on Mar 23, ’09 ” To be or not to be is not a question it is finality not mentioned” copyright me. http://billatplay.multiply.com/journal/item/138/In_Transit?replies_read=4

deletereply sassyangelac wrote on Mar 23, ’09 http://sassyangelac.multiply.com/journal/item/442/Poetry_Wednesday–Secret_Sense

deletereply notjay wrote on Mar 23, ’09 http://notjay.multiply.com/journal/item/141/The_Untouched_Hero_-_Original_Poem

deletereply bostonsdandd wrote on Mar 24, ’09 You know sometimes we really do have to stop and smell the roses of life. They won’t always be around for second changes. I’m soooo learning that lesson LOL. Here’s my contribution. Well collaboration ;o). http://bostonsdandd.multiply.com/journal/item/266

deletereply sweetpotatoqueen wrote on Mar 24, ’09 Laurita: Gorgeous illustrations to this entry above…and one of my favorite poems…what a treat! I’m right here this week: Please stop by and enjoy! http://sweetpotatoqueen.multiply.com/journal/item/262/Poetry_Wednesday_Happiness

deletereply welshdoug wrote on Mar 24, ’09 http://welshdoug.multiply.com/journal/item/359/Poetry_Wednesday_Re-Post It’s one of my first, from when I started blogging. Slightly altered, and illustrated.

deletereply jadedruid wrote on Mar 24, ’09 I was reminded that I have been missing. I have been working on my novel. Here is a small excerpt from it. I hope everyone likes it. http://jadedruid.multiply.com/journal/item/647/Invoking_the_Celtic_Spirit

deletereply sanssouciblogs wrote on Mar 24, ’09 What a beautiful beautiful page!!! Just gorgeous. I am exhausted from my project it just goes on and on! Deadline is coming so I am a bit ferklempt! From the archives which a few may have seen: A visit ot Italy http://sanssouciblogs.multiply.com/journal/item/74

deletereply dianahopeless wrote on Mar 25, ’09 Lovely page Laurita. I enjoyed the tour last week very much. So here I am again this week. I’m not writing much these days, but just did for a Creative Challenge, so thought I would share it here. http://dianahopeless.multiply.com/journal/item/564/Poetry_As_Time_Goes_By_my_poem

Comment deleted at the request of the author.

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Mar 25, ’09 Thanks for coming by, Diana !

deletereply forgetmenot525 wrote on Mar 26, ’09 your choices are always so beautifully thought out and well presented…………another lovely poem and just right for this time of year…………that line’gather ye rosebuds while ye may’…………very powerful and very well known, great post Laurita. http://forgetmenot525.multiply.com/journal/item/276/Poetry_Wednesday_Ian_Hamilton_Findlay