Under the Greenwood Tree
William Shakespeare 1564 (Stratford-upon-Avon) – 1616 (Stratford-upon-Avon)
Under the greenwood tree
Who loves to lie with me,
And turn his merry note
Unto the sweet bird's throat,
Come hither, come hither, come hither:
Here shall he see
No enemy
But winter and rough weather.
Who doth ambition shun,
And loves to live i' the sun,
Seeking the food he eats,
And pleas'd with what he gets,
Come hither, come hither, come hither:
Here shall he see
No enemy
But winter and rough weather.
About this poem
"Under the Greenwood Tree" is actually a song from Shakespeare's play "As You Like It", rather than a poem by Shakespeare. The song is sung by Amiens and other characters in Act II, Scene 5 of the play. It is a pastoral song that celebrates the pleasures of rural life and the beauty of nature. The song invites the listener to escape the pressures of urban life and join the singers under the greenwood tree to enjoy the simple pleasures of music, love, and friendship. more »
Submitted on May 13, 2011
Modified by acronimous on February 19, 2023
- 26 sec read
- 1,792 Views
Quick analysis:
| Scheme | aabbCAAC ddxxCAAC |
|---|---|
| Closest metre | Iambic trimeter |
| Characters | 409 |
| Words | 86 |
| Stanzas | 2 |
| Stanza Lengths | 8, 8 |
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"Under the Greenwood Tree" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/41521/under-the-greenwood-tree>.
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