# XVII explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by William Shakespeare.

## What happens

The poet describes a day when Love, whose season is always May, spies a beautiful blossom playing in the wind. The lover, sick with desire, wishes he could be the wind to blow upon the flower, but laments that his hand has sworn never to pluck it from its thorn. He reflects that such a vow is unsuitable for youth, which is naturally inclined to seize sweetness, and declares that even Jove would swear Juno were an Ethiope and deny his own divinity to become mortal for such love.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Desire

The lover's intense longing for the blossom and his wish to be the wind to touch it exemplify unfulfilled desire.

### Beauty and Transience

The blossom 'passing fair' playing in the air evokes the fleeting nature of beauty and youth.

## Character check-ins

### Love

Personified as a lover whose month is always May, spying a blossom.

### Youth

Described as apt to pluck a sweet, contrasting with the vow made.

### Jove

Mentioned as willing to swear Juno an Ethiope and become mortal for the beloved.

## Key lines

> On a day, alack the day! Love, whose month was ever May, Spied a blossom passing fair, Playing in the wanton air

One unfortunate day, Love, whose season is always spring, saw an exceptionally beautiful flower dancing in the playful breeze.

_Sets the scene of Love observing a lovely blossom._

> That the lover, sick to death, Wish’d himself the heaven’s breath, 'Air,' quoth he, 'thy cheeks may blow; Air, would I might triumph so!'

The lover, desperately lovesick, wished he were the wind itself, saying, 'Air, you can blow upon her cheeks; I wish I could triumph like that!'

_Expresses the lover's envy of the wind's ability to touch the beloved._

> But, alas! my hand hath sworn Ne’er to pluck thee from thy thorn: Vow, alack! for youth unmeet: Youth, so apt to pluck a sweet.

But unfortunately, my hand has vowed never to pick you from your stem—a vow unsuitable for youth, which is naturally inclined to seize pleasure.

_Highlights the conflict between the vow of restraint and the natural impulses of youth._

> Thou for whom Jove would swear Juno but an Ethiope were; And deny himself for Jove, Turning mortal for thy love.

You are the one for whom Jove would claim Juno is no more than an Ethiopian, and would renounce his own godhood to become mortal for your love.

_Emphasizes the beloved's extraordinary beauty by comparing it to Jove's willingness to degrade his wife and himself._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_28_se/chapters/xvii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_28_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_28_se/chapters