Page 36 - 100 Best Loved Poems - Teaching Unit

“Song”
by Edmund Waller, page 14

Vocabulary
resemble – appear similar
spied – observed
abide – stand
uncommended – not recommended, not praised

1. According to the speaker, how should young, beautiful women behave?

The speaker’s message here seems to be that young women should not hide their beauty,
but be as visible as possible so the world may enjoy it.

2. In your own words, describe what Waller means by his statement in the last stanza, “How
small a part of time they share/ That are so wondrous sweet and fair!”

Answers may vary. Example: People and things that are beautiful and kind seem to live a
short life on Earth.

3. How would you characterize the speaker of this poem? Explain your answer using evidence
from the poem.

Answers may vary. Example: The speaker encourages those who are beautiful to “come
forth” and “suffer herself to be desired,” telling women that they should not “blush so to
be admired.” The speaker, then, may be considered vain in the sense that he encourages
the flaunting of beauty. On the other hand, he may simply be kind, wishing women not to
hide her beauty out of fear of being judged as vain.

4. Why do you think the speaker says that “she” is wasting both his and her own time?

Answers may vary. Example: The speaker of the poem thinks that she is wasting their time
because she has not realized how he feels about her.

5. What does the third stanza imply about her feelings of being pursued?

Answers may vary. Example: The speaker’s love is embarrassed and shy about his feelings
for her. She blushes at his admiration.

6. In the final stanza, why does the speaker tell Rose to die?

The speaker tells Rose to die so that his love may witness the brevity of life and, in turn, act
on her feelings for him quickly.

T-18