Analysis of The kiss: a dialogue

Robert Herrick 1591 (London) – 1674 (Dean Prior)



1  Among thy fancies, tell me this,
What is the thing we call a kiss?
2  I shall resolve ye what it is:--

It is a creature born and bred
Between the lips, all cherry-red,
By love and warm desires fed,--
CHOR.  And makes more soft the bridal bed.

2  It is an active flame, that flies
First to the babies of the eyes,
And charms them there with lullabies,--
CHOR.  And stills the bride, too, when she cries.

2  Then to the chin, the cheek, the ear,
It frisks and flies, now here, now there:
'Tis now far off, and then 'tis near,--
CHOR.  And here, and there, and every where.

1  Has it a speaking virtue?  2  Yes.
1  How speaks it, say?  2  Do you but this,--
Part your join'd lips, then speaks your kiss;
CHOR.  And this Love's sweetest language is.

1  Has it a body?  2  Ay, and wings,
With thousand rare encolourings;
And as it flies, it gently sings--
CHOR.  Love honey yields, but never stings.


Scheme AAB CCCC DDDD XEXE XAAB FAFF
Poetic Form
Metre 01110111 11011101 11011111 11010101 01011101 11010101 101110101 11110111 11010101 0111110 101011111 11010101 11011111 11110111 1010101001 11010101 11111111 11111111 101110101 11010101 11011 01111101 111011101
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 883
Words 179
Sentences 16
Stanzas 6
Stanza Lengths 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4
Lines Amount 23
Letters per line (avg) 28
Words per line (avg) 8
Letters per stanza (avg) 108
Words per stanza (avg) 32
Font size:
 

Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

54 sec read
123

Robert Herrick

Robert Herrick was born in London, England, in 1591. He was apprenticed to a goldsmith (his uncle, Sir William), but went to Cambridge, at St John's, in 1613. He was ordained at Peterborough in 1623 and became chaplain to the Duke of Buckingham a few years later. "Hesperides" - a collection of 1200 lyrical poems - was published in 1648 and it remained his magnum opus. Herrick died in 1674, aged 83. more…

All Robert Herrick poems | Robert Herrick Books

5 fans

Discuss this Robert Herrick poem analysis with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add this poem analysis to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "The kiss: a dialogue" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 2 May 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/31395/the-kiss%3A--a-dialogue>.

    Become a member!

    Join our community of poets and poetry lovers to share your work and offer feedback and encouragement to writers all over the world!

    May 2024

    Poetry Contest

    Join our monthly contest for an opportunity to win cash prizes and attain global acclaim for your talent.
    29
    days
    2
    hours
    59
    minutes

    Special Program

    Earn Rewards!

    Unlock exciting rewards such as a free mug and free contest pass by commenting on fellow members' poems today!

    Browse Poetry.com

    Quiz

    Are you a poetry master?

    »
    "I walk down the garden paths, and all the daffodils are blowing"
    A Gwendolyn Brooks
    B Elizabeth Barrett Browning
    C Amy Lowell
    D Emily Dickinson