TO ENJOY THE TIME
While fates permit us, let's be merry; Pass all we must the fatal ferry; And this our life, too, whirls away, With the rotation of the day.
Robert Herrick
While fates permit us, let's be merry; Pass all we must the fatal ferry; And this our life, too, whirls away, With the rotation of the day.
Herrick’s little poem is an invitation to take hold of pleasure before it’s too late. The speaker isn’t pondering life from a distance; he’s right in the middle of it, urging us — and maybe himself — to be joyful while the “fates permit.” The tone is warm and conspiratorial, as if he’s leaning in…
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