Poet

Robert Herrick

1591-1674

Robert Herrick (1591–1674) was a prominent English poet best known for his lyrical, often light-hearted poetry that celebrated love, nature, and the fleeting joys of life. A clergyman by profession, Herrick’s work reflects the tension between his religious duties and his love of worldly pleasures. His most famous collection, Hesperides (1648), contains over 1,000 poems, many of which capture the beauty of rural life and the passage of time.

Herrick’s best-known poem, ‘To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time’, urges readers to “gather ye rosebuds while ye may,” embracing the carpe diem philosophy of living in the moment. Other notable poems include ‘Corinna’s Going A-Maying’, which celebrates spring festivities and the joys of love, and ‘Delight in Disorder’, which finds beauty in imperfection.

Herrick’s poetry is admired for its elegance, wit, and vivid imagery, often blending classical themes with a distinctly English sensibility. Though overlooked for a time, his work has been rediscovered for its charm and insight into the simple pleasures of life, making him a beloved figure in the history of English poetry.

Readings

Robert Herrick 'Corinna's going a Maying' read by Brian Cox
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