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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
FOR THE LADY OLIVIA PORTER; A PRESENT UPON NEW YEARS DAY, by WILLIAM DAVENANT Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Go! Hunt the whiter ermine! And present Last Line: Give oftener what is heard of than received. Alternate Author Name(s): D'avenant, William Subject(s): Gifts & Giving; Holidays; New Year | |||
Go! hunt the whiter ermine, and present His wealthy skin as this day's tribute sent To my Endymion's love; though she be far More gently smooth, more soft, than ermines are! Go! climb that rock, and when thou there hast found A star, contracted in a diamond, Give it Endymion's love, whose glorious eyes Darken the starry jewels of the skies! Go! dive into the Southern Sea, and when Th'ast found, to trouble the nice sight of men, A swelling pearl, and such whose single worth Boasts all the wonders which the seas bring forth, Give it Endymion's love, whose ev'ry tear Would more enrich the skilful jeweller. How I command! how slowly they obey! The churlish Tartar will not hunt today; Nor will that lazy sallow Indian strive To climb the rock, nor that dull Negro dive. Thus poets, like to kings by trust deceived, Give oftener what is heard of than received. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...NEW YEAR'S POEM by MARGARET AVISON A SPEED OF HISTORY by MARGARET AVISON NEW YEAR'S DAY by DAVID LEHMAN LINES FOR THE NEW YEAR by JULIE CARR I AM RUNNING INTO A NEW YEAR by LUCILLE CLIFTON FOR THE NEW YEAR (2) by ROBERT CREELEY MADAGASCAR: AUBADE by WILLIAM DAVENANT |
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