To Daffodils

"To the Virgins, to make Much of Time" by Robert Herrick (1648)

Herrick published “To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time,” along with “To Daffodils” in his 1648 poetry collection Hesperides. Similar to “To Daffodils,” this poem also details the passage of time and the waning of life. One of Herrick’s most anthologized poems, this work falls into the carpe diem category of poetry because it urges readers to “seize the day” and make the most of their time on earth. Specifically for readers of “To the Virgins,” Herrick is urging his virginal, female addressees to get married before it is too late.

"To His Coy Mistress" by Andrew Marvell (1681)

Andrew Marvell was a contemporary of Robert Herrick, and “To His Coy Mistress” shares many similarities with Herrick’s “To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time.” Marvell’s poem is also a carpe diem poem and Marvell’s speaker likewise addresses his message to a female audience. As Herrick’s speaker in “To the Virgins” encourages women to marry and not waste their youthful vigor, Marvell’s speaker equally encourages his lover to stop wasting time with temptations and flirtations. If he could, the speaker states he would relish their courtship for as long as possible.