To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time

Herrick’s poem consists of four stanzas containing four lines each (quatrains), for a total of 16 lines. Each stanza follows an alternating rhyme scheme, with the first and third lines rhyming, and the second and fourth lines rhyming. For example, the first and third lines of the first stanza rhyme “may” (Line 1) with “today” (Line 3). The second and fourth lines rhyme “a-flying” (Line 2) and “dying” (Line 4). The first rhyme mentioned here, between “may” and “today,” can be categorized as feminine rhyme, as it rhymes on the last stressed syllable of the “ay” sound. The second instance is an example of masculine rhyme as it features a rhyme on a stressed syllable followed by an unstressed syllable: “y-ing.” The rhyme patterns of all of the stanzas seem to be the same, with the first alternating pair falling under the feminine rhyme category and the second alternating pair falling under the masculine rhyme category.

In addition to containing a set rhyme pattern, the stanzas also contain the same syllabic patterns. The first and third lines of each stanza are eight syllables long, while the second and fourth lines are seven syllables long. Depending on how certain words are read or broken down, such as “glorious” in Line 5 or “flower” in Line 3, this may throw off the syllable count for some readers. However, the majority of the poem adheres to this structure. The lines also follow an iambic pattern, meaning that they contain iambic feet, or units, of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable. The first and third lines typically contain four of these iambic feet, while the second and fourth lines contain three of these units followed by a remaining unstressed syllable: “Gather ye rose-buds while ye may / Old Time is still a-flying” (Lines 1-2). This structured rhyme scheme and metrical pattern gives the poem a singsong, rhythmic quality, which makes it attractive to hear for readers.