"To Daffodils"

Fair Daffodils, we weep to see
         You haste away so soon;
As yet the early-rising sun
         Has not attain'd his noon.
                        Stay, stay,
                Until the hasting day
                        Has run
                But to the even-song;
And, having pray'd together, we
Will go with you along.

We have short time to stay, as you,
         We have as short a spring;
As quick a growth to meet decay,
         As you, or anything.
                        We die
                As your hours do, and dry
                        Away,
                Like to the summer's rain;
Or as the pearls of morning's dew,
Ne'er to be found again.


Published in 1648 in "Hesperides" by Robert Herrick (1591-1674)




I love the "carpe diem" message in this poem.  Life is short, and we should make the most of the beauty of it while we can.  Daffodils are Mum's favourite flowers, so I gave her some bunches yesterday when I arrived for the weekend and they started blooming today, St David's Day.