Brave flowers—that I could gallant it like you,
And be as little vain!
You come abroad, and make a harmless show,
And to your beds of earth again.
You are not proud: you know your birth:
For your embroider’d garments are from earth.
You do obey your months and times, but I
Would have it ever Spring:
My fate would know no Winter, never die,
Nor think of such a thing.
O that I could my bed of earth but view
And smile, and look as cheerfully as you!
O teach me to see Death and not to fear,
But rather to take truce!
How often have I seen you at a bier,
And there look fresh and spruce!
You fragrant flowers! then teach me, that my breath
Like yours may sweeten and perfume my death.
Henry King, Bishop of Chichester (1592-1669)
And be as little vain!
You come abroad, and make a harmless show,
And to your beds of earth again.
You are not proud: you know your birth:
For your embroider’d garments are from earth.
You do obey your months and times, but I
Would have it ever Spring:
My fate would know no Winter, never die,
Nor think of such a thing.
O that I could my bed of earth but view
And smile, and look as cheerfully as you!
O teach me to see Death and not to fear,
But rather to take truce!
How often have I seen you at a bier,
And there look fresh and spruce!
You fragrant flowers! then teach me, that my breath
Like yours may sweeten and perfume my death.
Henry King, Bishop of Chichester (1592-1669)
I'll never see flowers the same after this
ReplyDeleteDIS POEM REL WEIRD BOY. A MAN WANTING TO BE LIKE A FLOWER. BUT I LIKE IT. IT HAVE A DEEPER MEANING BUT FIRST U HAVE TO READ IT AND UNDERSTAND IT TO SEE THAT DEEPER MEANING.
ReplyDeletetrue because the first time I read it I was confused then when u really try to understand it, it make sense... I think iz a ole man about to die in a nursing home watching flowers!!
ReplyDeletetrue! he jus want a new life longing to hav a fresh start :-D
ReplyDelete"O teach me to see Death and not to fear,
ReplyDeleteBut rather to take truce!
How often have I seen you at a bier,
And there look fresh and spruce!" Someone please tell me exactly what this phrase actually means?
the poet desires to learn how to look blithely at death the way flowers do (the poet sees how they accept death willingly, they are humble and modest.)the poet wants to agree with death, to make peace with the unavoidable(death- a cold journey filled with despair.) the poet wants to be like the flowers- how they may uplift the mood in a funeral by their fragrance and liveliness.He hopes to be like the flowers in the time of his death. :)
ReplyDelete-DJV
truce - a state of peace agreed to between opponents so they can discuss peace terms
ReplyDeleteSo the poet wants the flowers to teach him how to make peace with death and accept death without fear.
brier - associated with funerals
So the poet is saying that he has seen the flowers looking fresh and smelling nice even at sad occasions and he admires that
hope that helps!
Wow....i would of never think about it in that perspective.....
ReplyDeletewerent you in class???
ReplyDeleteI'm not in de lit class i doin span bt i doin lit as an extra.....
ReplyDeletehmph.. the poem is a bit weird eh.. bt at least all of us understand... i think (orange juice)
ReplyDelete