Song. (Love, a child, is ever crying) Lady Mary Wroth

[tariel]

I'm having a bit of trouble analyzing this poem by Wroth. If anyone can help me out, it would be greatly appreciated. I'm eager to hear your opinions.

Thanks.


Love, a child, is ever crying,
Please him, and he straight is flying;
Give him, he there more is craving,
Never satisfied with having.

His desires have no measure,
Endless folly is his treasure;
What he promiseth he breaketh;
Trust not one word that he speaketh.

He vows nothing but false matter,
And to cozen you he'll flatter;
Let him gain the hand, he'll leave you,
And still glory to deceive you.

He will triumph in your wailing,
And yet cause be of your failing;
These his virtues are, and slighter
Are his gifts, his favours lighter.

Feathers are as firm in staying,
Wolves no fiercer in their preying.
As a child then leave him crying,
Nor seek him, so giv'n to flying.

[Laila Owusu]

Having the same problem with the poem love, a child is ever crying. Help anyone?

[DieterM]

IMO it's a very wry view on what kind of love men can (and will) offer women (hence the use of "he" throughout the poem). (Male) love as seen from this pof is compared to a child (1st line): un-finished, immature, whimsical, egomaniac, a means for men to fulfill their own desires and needs rather than satisfy whatever needs and desires their (female) partner(s) could have. You mustn't forget the century when this was written (17th century, if I'm not mistaken)—even if one could argue (if one was thus inclined) that nothing much has changed ever since ;-) I guess that with this as a starting point, the rest will be very easy to analyze…

[karine4]

Yes it's quite interesting the way of the poem goes on... The child's status and the vision of love in one side by the men and on the other hand with the women approach.