To Daffodils

Poetry | Robert Herrick
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Why does the Poet Want to Pray Together with the Daffodils?

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Why does the poet want to pray together with the daffodils?

In "To Daffodils" (1648), Robert Herrick (1591 – 1674) compares human life to the short-lived daffodils. The poet speaks about the beauty of the flowers and their brief existence. He asks them to stay longer so they can pray together before leaving. This shows his deep connection with nature and his reflections on life and death.

To Cherish Their Beauty: The poet loves the beauty of daffodils. He feels sad because they fade away quickly. By praying together, he hopes to spend more time with them. This also reflects his wish to appreciate the fleeting beauty of life. Herrick says, 

Stay, stay,

Until the hasting day,

The line shows his plea for them to stay a little longer.

To Share the Fleeting Moment: Both the daffodils and humans have short lives. The p

oet wants to share this moment of prayer to acknowledge this truth. He feels that praying together will unite them in their shared journey toward the end. He highlights this in the line, 

We have short time to stay, as you.

To Find Peace and Acceptance: Praying with the daffodils shows the poet’s desire for peace. He wants to accept the inevitability of death calmly. Through prayer, he seeks comfort and understanding. He realizes that all things must pass, just like the flowers. The poet shows his acceptance of life’s transient nature through prayer and reflection.  The lines, 

Or as the pearls of morning's dew,

Ne'er to be found again.

By praying with the daffodils, the poet seeks to celebrate their beauty, embrace the shared reality of short-lived existence, and find peace in life’s transience. Herrick's use of daffodils as a metaphor for life teaches us to love every moment and gracefully accept the inevitable.

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Robert Herrick
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from To Daffodils