The Nymph's Reply to the Shepherd
 poem by Sir Walter Raleigh

The Nymphs Reply to the Shepherd
Sir Walter Raleigh


If all the world and love were young,
And truth in every shepherd's tongue,
These pretty pleasures might me move
To live with thee and be thy love.

Time drives the flocks from field to fold
When rivers rage and rocks grow cold,
And Philomel becometh dumb;
The rest complains of cares to come.

The flowers do fade, and wanton fields
To wayward winter reckoning yields;
A honey tongue, a heart of gall,
Is fancy's spring, but sorrow's fall.

Thy gowns, thy shoes, thy beds of roses,
Thy cap, thy kirtle, and thy posies
Soon break, soon wither, soon forgotten
In folly ripe, in season rotten.

Thy belt of straw and ivy buds,
Thy coral clasps and amber studs,
All these in me no means can move
To come to thee and be thy love.

But could youth last and love still breed,
Had joys no date nor age no need,
Then these delights my mind might move
To live with thee and be thy love.

The Nymphs Reply to the Shepherd
Sir Walter Raleigh


The Nymph's Reply to the Shepherd -  poem by
Sir Walter Raleigh

A poem can stir all of the senses, and the subject matter of a poem can range from being funny to being sad. We hope that you liked this poem and the sentiments in the words of The Nymphs Reply to the Shepherd by Sir Walter Raleigh you shouls also read The Passionate Shepherd to His Love poetry by Christopher Marlowe to which this poem was intended as a direct reply ! 

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