Anna Wickham addresses a lover she calls Adonis, naming him after the famously beautiful youth. She begins with a thought about poetry: a word’s worth can be measured by how much pleasure it gives, just as honey and milk have stayed in song because they are sweet and familiar. Her joy in him makes her want to give his pipe the same lyric treatment. But the real subject is not tobacco—it’s his lips moving in “gracious meditation” as he smokes. The speaker’s feeling is tender, amused, and quietly desiring. The mood is intimate and calm, like watching someone you love do something small and being struck by how beautiful they are. There is no grand drama, only careful attention to a private moment.
Spoken to Adonis — Summary
Have you observed that one can measure Poetic worth of words in terms of pleasure? Honey and milk have been sweet food so long, These words are naturalized in Song. And from my joy in you the time is ripe That I find lyric value for your pipe. What tender pleasure do your lips invoke, Moving in gracious meditation as you smoke!