Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, CARPE DIEM, by PIERRE DE RONSARD


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

CARPE DIEM, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: There is a time for all things, sweet!
Last Line: And mourn lost blisses.
Subject(s): Churches; Death; Flowers; Kisses; Lips; Roses; Worship; Cathedrals; Dead, The


THERE is a time for all things, sweet!
When we at church are kneeling
We'll worship truly.
But when in secret lovers meet,
Their wanton blisses stealing,
We'll match them duly.

Why, then, oh why deny my will
To kiss thy hair's soft beauty,
Thy lips' dear roses?
When I would touch thy breast, why still
Dost feign the nun's cold duty
In cloister-closes?

For whom dost save thine eyes in sooth,
Thy brow, thy bosom's sweetness,
Thy lips twin-mated?
Dost think to kiss King Pluto's mouth
When Charon's hateful fleetness
Oars thee ill-fated?

Thine aspect shall be gaunt and dread,
Thy lips, when Death has ta'en thee,
All sicklied over.
Were I to meet thee 'mongst the dead
I'd pass by, and disdain thee,
Thee, once my lover!

Thy skull shall know nor hair nor skin,
Thy jowl the worms shall fatten,
Erstwhile so winning;
Thou'lt have no other teeth within
Thy jaws, but such as batten
In death's-heads grinning. . . .

Sweet, while we live, oh! seize to-day,
And every respite using,
Spare not thy kisses!
Soon, soon, Death comes, and then for aye
Thou'lt rue thy cold refusing
And mourn lost blisses.





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