NPM: #20–disorder and distraction
Delight in Disorder
A sweet disorder in the dresse
Kindles in cloathes a wantonnesse:
A Lawne about the shoulders thrown
Into a fine distraction:
An erring Lace, which here and there
Enthralls the Crimson Stomacher:
A Cuffe neglectfull, and thereby
Ribbands to flow confusedly:
A winning wave (deserving Note)
In the tempestuous petticote:
A careless shooe-string, in whose tye I see a wilde civility:
Doe more bewitch me, then when
Art Is too precise in every part.
This illustration of Robert Herrick promotes a rather conservative attitude, but if you really read the poem, I think you will read between the lines, that Mr. Herrick possessed a bit of naughtiness about him. He has a few other poems that hint at his true thoughts about women and his intentions. Poets of yesteryear didn’t always write about flowers and trees, eh, Bobby?
Oh, I think there’s more than a bit of naughtiness there. 😀 I think he was a fine one with the ladies.
Or he thought he was fine 😉