Poets/Poetesses and the Nature of Poetry - Essay Example

Andrew Marvell’s poem ‘To His Coy Mistress’ articulates the themes of love, life, and death in a variety of ways. The poem’s overarching subject matter features a man that is attempting to seduce a woman by informing her about the immediacy of the moment and the passing of time. The poem assumes its literary merit and notability through the implementation of language that Marvell uses to convey these points. In the first stanza of the poem, the speaker indicates that the woman is resisting his advances; the poet states, “Had we but world enough, and time,/ This coyness, lady, were no crime” (Marvell, 1-2).

As the stanza continues, Marvell references a number of historical events as a rhetorical strategy. For instance, he states if time were not a factor he would love the woman ten years before the Flood, ostensibly referring to the seminal Biblical flood. As the poem continues Marvell further advances his seductions through telling the woman about their fading youth. He states, “Now therefore, while the youthful hue/ Sits on thy skin like morning dew,/ And while thy willing soul transpires/ At every pore with instant fires,” (Marvell, 33-36).

While these elements surface in relation to seduction intentions, they also constitute a perspective on life and death. In these regards, the poem constitutes a comprehensive portrait of the passing time and the need to live for the day. John Betjeman’s poem ‘In Westminster Abbey’ considers the theme of life and the concept of God in a number of incarnations. The poem itself seemingly occurs in a time of war and as such the poet makes direct pleas to God to carry out certain wishes. For instance, he states, “Gracious Lord, oh bomb the Germans.

/ Spare their women for Thy Sake,/ And if that is not too easy/ We will pardon Thy Mistake” (Betjeman’s, 7-10). In terms of life the poet considers a number of elements related to the individual’s interaction with their country and the various elements that provide this country with identity. Betjeman states, “Think of what our Nation stands for,/ Books from Boots and country lanes,/ Free speech, free passes, class distinction,/ Democracy and proper drains” (Betjeman, 19-22). In these regards, the poem presents a powerful encapsulation of the nature of existence within this wartime context.

These elements are further notable as the poet implements rhyming as a rhetorical tool in establishing their power. This has the effect of giving the descriptions a lyrical aura that further involves the reader in their articulations. Ultimately, the poem concludes with the poet proclaiming his goodness in front of God, demonstrating the highly Christian characterization of the God concept in this poem. William Shakespeare’s sonnet ‘Like as the Waves Make Towards the Pebbled Shore’ considers the themes of life, death and love from a variety of perspectives.

When considering Shakespeare’s sonnet one considers the nature of Maxwell’s ‘To His Coy Mistress’ in that both works consider the nature of life as short and focus on the need of the individual to live their life for the moment. Shakespeare begins