Katharine Mosher

By Robert Herrick
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.
The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun,
The higher he's a-getting,
The sooner will his race be run,
And nearer he's to setting.
That age is best which is the first,
When youth and blood are warmer ;
But being spent, the worse, and worst
Times still succeed the former.
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.

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“And this same flower that smiles to-day”
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Comparing time to flying, sun to a lamp
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The flower and rosebuds represent youth and purity throughout the poem
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The second stanza represents the sun god Helios
(enotes.com). “The higher he's a-getting,
The sooner will his race be run,
And nearer he's to setting.”

She told him she’d rather fix her makeup
Than try to fix what’s going on
But the problem keeps on calling
Even with the cellphone gone
She told him that she believes in living
Bigger than she’s living now
But her world keeps spinning backwards
And upsidedown
Don’t say so long in the cellphone
Don’t spend today away
Cuz today will soon be
Gone, like yesterday is gone,
Like history is
Gone, just trying to prove me wrong
And pretend like your immortal
She said he said live like no tomorrow
Every day we borrow
Brings us one step closer to the edge (infinity)
Where your treasure, where’s your hope
Forget the world and lose your soul
She pretends like she pretends like she’s immortal
Don’t say so long
You’re not that far gone
This could be your big chance to makeup
Today till soon be
Gone, like yesterday is gone,
Like history is gone,
The world keeps spinning on,
Your going going gone,
Like summer break is gone,
Like Saturday is gone
Just trying to prove me wrong
You pretend like your immortal your immortal
We are not infinite
We are not permanent
Nothing is immediate
We’re so confident
In our accomplishments
Look at how dark it is
Gone, like Frank Sinatra
Like Elvis and his mom
Like Al Pichino’s cash nothing lasts in this life
My highschool dreams are gone
My childhood sweets are gone
Life is a day that doesn’t last for long
Life is more than money
Time was never money
Time was never cash,
Life is still more than girls
Life is more than hundred dollar bills
And oh the town fills
Life more than fame and rock and roll and thrills
All the riches of the kings
And up in wills we got information in the information age
But do we know what life is
Outside of our convenient Lexus cages
She said he said live like no tomorrow
Every moment that we borrow
Brings us closer to the God who’s not short of cash
Hey bono I’m glad you asked
Life is still worth living, life is still worth living

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The idea of being “gone” is repeated throughout the song for emphasis
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Uses different details that people can easily relate to, like make-up and cell phone
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Examples are given as evidence. For example,
Elvis and his mom, Al Pacino’s cash, Frank Sinatra
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Life is more then money, life is more then girls, etc.

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Herrick was born in Cheapside, London. His father fell out a window when he was 1 and it is unknown as to whether it was suicide or not. He was a bachelor for all of his life, and the girls in his poems are said to be fictional. His earlier poems tended to be more about women but his later poems were more spiritual and philosophical. The over-riding message of Herrick’s work is that life is short, the world is beautiful, love is splendid, and we must use the short time we have to make the most of it. His life relates well to this poem first off, because it could have to do with his dad. With one of the poem’s themes being carpe diem, he could have gotten part of the inspiration from realizing he needs to live his life to the fullest in case something strange like that happens to him. Also, another theme is staying young and free and enjoying yourself.
This could have to do with the fact that he has been a bachelor his whole life and is claiming that’s how he lives his life.
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(wikipedia)

This band claims that they have never really fit into a certain genre of music. “We try to make music for thinking people.” In other words, they want their songs to send a message across to the audience as they hear it. They also want their music to be accessible to everyone, which is why they do not like being called a Christian Rock band.
They say that the name blocks some people out, and that’s not what music should do. Their songs are outside the box and since they are not just a Christian band, they can say more things about life in general in their songs. This is prevalent in their song Gone because they are talking about living life to the fullest and how you want to, because it will soon be over.
(wikipedia)

Both Robert Herrick and Switchfoot convey a positive theme about living life as if every day is your last. The song and the poem both use comparisons for emphasis. For example, in “Gone”, towards the end of the song they sing about how life is more then just the material objects. In the poem, Herrick compares life to flying, as in moving along fast and never stopping. The poem and the song really try to tell the audience that you have to do what you want in life and hold onto the things you love because life moves so fast. While Switchfoot’s song is very “in your face” and straightforward, Herrick’s poem really makes you think about the different meanings. Both the song and the poem convey the message very well in their own distinct way.