To Blossoms
Why do ye fall so fast?
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Robert Herrick (1591-1674) was an English poet and cleric, best known for his lyrical poetry and association with the Cavalier poets. Born in London, he was the seventh child of Nicholas Herrick, a prosperous goldsmith. After the death of his father when Herrick was just a year old, he was apprenticed to his uncle, Sir William Herrick, also a goldsmith. In 1607, Herrick entered St John's College, Cambridge, and later transferred to Trinity Hall, from where he graduated in 1617.
In 1629, Herrick was ordained as a minister and became the vicar of Dean Prior, a parish in Devon. Despite his clerical duties, he is remembered for his poetry rather than his ecclesiastical work. His most renowned collection, "Hesperides," published in 1648, contains over 1,400 poems that explore themes of love, nature, and the passage of time. This collection includes his famous carpe diem poem, "To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time," which begins with the celebrated line "Gather ye rosebuds while ye may."
Herrick's work, characterized by its classical influences and lyrical beauty, saw a revival in interest during the 19th century. Despite living through the turbulent times of the English Civil War, Herrick's poetry often reflects a light-hearted, pastoral world, capturing the fleeting pleasures of life. He passed away in Dean Prior in 1674.