'HIS WINDING-SHEET' by Robert Herrick


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Come thou, who art the wine and wit
Of all I've writ;
The grace, the glory, and the best
Piece of the rest;
Thou art of what I did intend
The All, and End;
And what was made, was made to meet.
Thee, thee my sheet.
Come then, and be to my chaste side
Both bed and bride.
We two, as reliques left, will have
One rest, one grave;
And, hugging close, we need not fear
Lust entering here,
Where all desires are dead or cold,
As is the mould;
And all affections are forgot,
Or trouble not.
Here, here the slaves and prisoners be
From shackles free;
And weeping widows, long opprest,
Do here find rest.
The wronged client ends his laws
Here, and his cause;
Here those long suits of Chancery lie
Quiet, or die;
And all Star-chamber bills do cease,
Or hold their peace.
Here needs no court for our Request
Where all are best;
All wise, all equal, and all just
Alike i'th' dust.
Nor need we here to fear the frown
Of court or crown;
Where fortune bears no sway o'er things,
There all are kings.
In this securer place we'll keep,
As lull'd asleep;
Or for a little time we'll lie,
As robes laid by,
To be another day re-worn,
Turn'd, but not torn;
Or like old testaments engrost,
Lock'd up, not lost;
And for a-while lie here conceal'd,
To be reveal'd
Next, at that great Platonic year,
And then meet here.

Editor 1 Interpretation

HIS WINDING-SHEET: An Analysis of Robert Herrick's Poem

Robert Herrick's "His Winding-Sheet" is a poem that speaks to the inevitability of death and the transience of life. Written in the seventeenth century, the poem is a meditation on the nature of mortality and the presence of death in everyday life. The poem is a powerful piece of literature that speaks to our deepest fears and desires, and it continues to resonate with readers today. In this literary criticism, I will provide an interpretation of the poem that highlights its central themes and explores its significance.

The Poem

Before we delve into the poem's meaning, let us first examine the text itself. Here is the poem in its entirety:

His winding-sheet is doom'd to bear The strongest man alive: The strongest man alive must die. All things within this fading mould Shall reach the dust again: All things, but truth, shall be reduc'd To ashes and to pain. The roof-tree of his pride is fall'n, Lone stand the chimneys now; The stalker stalk'd goes empty home, And henceforth wanders thou.

At just eight lines, the poem is short and to the point. The first stanza establishes the central image of the poem: the winding-sheet, a traditional burial shroud. The second stanza expands on this image, speaking to the transience of all things in life except for truth, which will endure beyond death. The final stanza brings the image of the winding-sheet full circle, using it to describe the fallen pride of a once-great man.

Themes

The central themes of "His Winding-Sheet" are mortality, impermanence, and the search for enduring truth. The poem speaks to the inevitability of death, emphasizing the fact that even the strongest among us will eventually succumb to its embrace. The image of the winding-sheet is used to underscore this point, as it serves as a powerful symbol of mortality and the end of life.

The poem also touches on the idea of impermanence, highlighting the fact that all things in life are subject to decay and dissolution. This includes not just physical objects, but also the intangible aspects of our lives such as pride and ego. The fallen roof-tree of the proud man in the final stanza serves as a potent reminder of this fact.

Finally, the poem speaks to the search for enduring truth. In a world where everything is subject to change and decay, the quest for something that will endure beyond death takes on heightened importance. The poem suggests that truth is the one thing that will not be reduced to ashes and pain, and that the search for this truth should be a central focus of our lives.

Interpretation

So what does all of this mean? At its core, "His Winding-Sheet" is a meditation on the nature of mortality and the human condition. The poem suggests that death is an inescapable part of life, and that all of our struggles and achievements are ultimately insignificant in the face of this reality. The image of the winding-sheet serves as a powerful reminder of our own mortality, and the impermanence of all things in life.

At the same time, however, the poem suggests that there is something that endures beyond death. This enduring truth is not something that can be defined or quantified, but rather something that must be sought out through introspection and reflection. The poem suggests that this search for truth should be a central focus of our lives, and that it is only through the pursuit of this truth that we can find any real meaning or purpose in life.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Robert Herrick's "His Winding-Sheet" is a powerful poem that speaks to the universal human experience of mortality. The poem suggests that death is an inescapable part of life, and that all of our struggles and achievements are ultimately insignificant in the face of this reality. At the same time, however, the poem suggests that there is something that endures beyond death, and that this enduring truth is something that must be sought out through introspection and reflection. Overall, "His Winding-Sheet" is a poem that speaks to our deepest fears and desires, and it continues to resonate with readers today.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Robert Herrick’s “His Winding-Sheet” is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a poem that is both haunting and beautiful, and it speaks to the human condition in a way that few other poems can. In this analysis, we will take a closer look at the poem and explore its themes, imagery, and symbolism.

The poem begins with the speaker describing his own death and burial. He imagines himself lying in his winding-sheet, which is a cloth used to wrap a corpse for burial. The speaker then goes on to describe the various ways in which his body will decay and return to the earth. He speaks of his bones turning to dust, his flesh becoming food for worms, and his hair and nails falling away.

The imagery in this poem is both vivid and unsettling. The speaker’s description of his own decay is graphic and visceral, and it forces the reader to confront the reality of death and the fragility of human life. The use of the winding-sheet as a symbol for death and burial is particularly effective, as it is a tangible reminder of the finality of death.

One of the key themes of the poem is the transience of life. The speaker acknowledges that his body will eventually return to the earth, and that his time on this earth is limited. This theme is reinforced by the imagery of decay and the use of the winding-sheet as a symbol for death. The poem serves as a reminder that life is fleeting, and that we should make the most of the time we have.

Another theme that is present in the poem is the idea of renewal. While the speaker acknowledges the inevitability of his own decay, he also speaks of the new life that will spring up from his body. He speaks of the worms that will feed on his flesh, and the plants that will grow from the nutrients in his body. This theme of renewal is a reminder that even in death, there is the potential for new life.

The use of religious imagery and symbolism is also present in the poem. The speaker speaks of his soul ascending to heaven, and he uses the image of Christ’s burial shroud to describe his own winding-sheet. This religious imagery serves to reinforce the idea of renewal, as it suggests that even in death, there is the potential for spiritual growth and transformation.

Overall, “His Winding-Sheet” is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that speaks to the human condition in a way that few other poems can. The vivid imagery and symbolism serve to reinforce the themes of transience and renewal, and the poem serves as a reminder that life is fleeting and that we should make the most of the time we have.

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