Thursday, April 23, 2009

The Argument of His Book by Robert Herrick


I sing of brooks, of blossoms, birds, and bowers,
Of April, May, of June, and July-flowers;

I sing of May-poles, hock-carts, wassails, wakes,

Of bridegrooms, brides and of their bridal-cakes;

I write of youth, of love, and have access
By these to sing of cleanly wantonness;

I sing of dews, of rains, and piece by piece
Of balm, of oil, of spice and ambergris;

I sing of times trans-shifting, and I write
How roses first came red and lilies white;

I write of groves, of twilights, and I sing
The court of Mab, and of the fairy king;

I write of Hell; I sing (and ever shall)
Of Heaven, and hope to have it after all.

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