To Make Much of Time

I never knew until this evening that Robert Herrick (1591–1674) wrote the poem, “To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time.” Here is the first and last verse:

Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,
Old Time is still a-flying:
And this same flower that smiles to-day
To-morrow will be dying. . . .

Then be not coy, but use your time,
And while ye may, go marry:
For having lost but once your prime,
You may for ever tarry.