'Take, Oh Take Those Lips Away' by John Fletcher


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Take, oh take those lips away,
That so sweetly were forsworn,
And those eyes, the break of day,
Lights that do mislead the morn:
But my kisses bring again,
Seals of love, but sealed in vain.Hide, oh hide those hills of snow,
Which thy frozen bosom bears,
On whose tops the pinks that grow
Are yet of those that April wears.
But first set my poor heart free,
Bound in those icy chains by thee.

Editor 1 Interpretation

"Take, Oh Take Those Lips Away" by John Fletcher

Have you ever come across a piece of literature that leaves you lost for words? A piece that captures your imagination and takes you on a journey through its words? If you haven't, then you haven't read John Fletcher's poem, "Take, Oh Take Those Lips Away."

This classic poem is a masterpiece in its own right, with its captivating language, vivid imagery, and poignant message. It is a poem that has stood the test of time and continues to evoke emotions in readers centuries after it was written.

The Poem

"Take, Oh Take Those Lips Away" is a song from John Fletcher's play, "The Bloody Brother," first performed in 1639. The poem is a dialogue between two characters, Lysander and Aminta, who are lovers. Lysander is pleading with Aminta to kiss him, but she refuses, and he proceeds to ask her to take away her lips altogether.

Take, oh take those lips away, That so sweetly were forsworn; And those eyes, the break of day, Lights that do mislead the morn: But my kisses bring again, Seals of love, but seal'd in vain.

The first stanza of the poem sets the tone for the rest of the piece. It is a plea from the speaker to have Aminta take away her lips, which he sees as a source of temptation that leads him astray. The language is poetic, and the imagery is vivid, with the eyes being described as "the break of day" and "lights that do mislead the morn." The tone is melancholic, with the speaker lamenting his failed attempts to win Aminta's love.

Hide, oh hide those hills of snow, Which thy frozen bosom bears, On whose tops the pinks that grow Are yet of those that April wears. But first set my poor heart free, Bound in those icy chains by thee.

The second stanza takes a different turn, with the speaker asking Aminta to hide her breasts, which he describes as "hills of snow." The imagery is powerful, and the use of the word "frozen" to describe her bosom adds to the melancholic tone of the poem. The speaker then pleads with Aminta to set his heart free from the chains that she has placed upon it.

Literary Criticism and Interpretation

"Take, Oh Take Those Lips Away" is a poem that can be interpreted in many ways, with different readers seeing different meanings in the poem. At its core, the poem is about love and the pain that comes with it. The speaker is in love with Aminta, but she has rejected him, and he is left to deal with the pain of unrequited love.

The first stanza of the poem can be seen as a plea from the speaker to Aminta to stop tempting him. He sees her lips as a source of temptation that leads him astray, and he asks her to take them away. However, the speaker also acknowledges that his love for Aminta is strong, as he says that his kisses bring back "seals of love, but sealed in vain." This line suggests that the speaker knows that his love for Aminta is unrequited, but he is unable to stop loving her.

The second stanza of the poem can be interpreted as the speaker's attempt to distance himself from Aminta. He asks her to hide her breasts, which he sees as a symbol of her beauty and attraction. The use of the word "frozen" to describe her bosom suggests that the speaker sees her as cold and unfeeling, and he wants her to set him free from the chains of her love.

Overall, "Take, Oh Take Those Lips Away" is a poem that captures the pain of unrequited love. The speaker is in love with Aminta, but she has rejected him, and he is left to deal with the pain of his unrequited love. The poem is beautifully written, with vivid imagery and poetic language that evokes emotions in readers.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "Take, Oh Take Those Lips Away" is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a masterpiece that captures the pain of unrequited love and is a testament to the power of language and poetry. The poem is beautifully written, with vivid imagery and poetic language that evokes emotions in readers. It is a poem that continues to resonate with readers centuries after it was written and is a testament to the enduring power of literature.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry Take, Oh Take Those Lips Away: A Masterpiece of Love and Longing

John Fletcher's "Take, Oh Take Those Lips Away" is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a masterpiece of love and longing that captures the essence of human emotions in a way that few other poems can. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and language of this beautiful poem.

Themes

The central theme of "Take, Oh Take Those Lips Away" is love and the longing that comes with it. The speaker is deeply in love with someone and is desperate to be with them. The poem is filled with images of desire and passion, as the speaker pleads with their lover to give in to their feelings.

Another important theme in the poem is the transience of life. The speaker is acutely aware that life is short and that love is fleeting. They urge their lover to seize the moment and enjoy their time together while they can.

Structure

"Take, Oh Take Those Lips Away" is a sonnet, a form of poetry that originated in Italy in the 13th century. Sonnets are typically 14 lines long and follow a strict rhyme scheme. Fletcher's sonnet follows the traditional rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG.

The poem is divided into two quatrains (four-line stanzas) and a sestet (a six-line stanza). The first quatrain sets the scene and establishes the speaker's desire for their lover. The second quatrain introduces the theme of the transience of life and the urgency of love. The sestet is a plea to the lover to give in to their feelings and enjoy their time together.

Language

Fletcher's language in "Take, Oh Take Those Lips Away" is rich and evocative. He uses a variety of poetic devices to create a sense of longing and desire. For example, he uses imagery to paint a picture of the speaker's desire for their lover:

"Take, oh take those lips away, That so sweetly were forsworn; And those eyes, the break of day, Lights that do mislead the morn"

Here, Fletcher uses the image of lips and eyes to convey the speaker's desire for their lover. The lips are "sweetly forsworn," suggesting that the lover has promised to resist the speaker's advances. The eyes are "the break of day," suggesting that they are the light that guides the speaker through their life.

Fletcher also uses repetition to create a sense of urgency and longing. The phrase "take, oh take" is repeated throughout the poem, emphasizing the speaker's desire for their lover. The repetition of the word "away" in the first line creates a sense of finality, suggesting that the speaker is desperate to be with their lover before it is too late.

Conclusion

"Take, Oh Take Those Lips Away" is a beautiful poem that captures the essence of love and longing. Fletcher's use of language and poetic devices creates a sense of urgency and passion that is both timeless and universal. The poem is a reminder that life is short and that we should seize the moment and enjoy our time with the people we love.

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