Having watched Aaron Sorkin use Robert Herrick’s To the Virgins, to make much of Time (“Gather ye rosebuds, while ye may”) in Newsroom:

and having followed up on the poem – I found the sentiment of the poem so disturbing that I had to rebut with more contemporary sentiments in a replacement poem.

(Don’t get me wrong, I love the way Sorkin writes, I love Newsroom so far – and like the way Sorkin embeds poetry and art into his works).

Here is Herrick’s original poem [http://www.bartleby.com/101/248.html]:

To the Virgins, to make much of Time / 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.

This poem seems so prevalent in our day and society – although less for virgins as intended – sanctifying the Firsts (especially sexually) – I wish we were to encompass new stories to tell ourselves and the ones around us.

Gather Ye Rosebuds / Gil Shidlansik

Gather ye rosebuds, while ye may
From the ripe dreams in yonder field.
Pick thy heart’s desire for today
Leave the rest for another’s yield.

Choose thou a path, pursue it today
For dreams and love, once borne,
That wait for another time or day
Do not live to see the morn.

A first step begins all journeys long
Resolve is its sole component
Follow the song thy heart sings strong
The rest is less important.

Then be not coy, and use thy days –
And remember always to be merry!
Pursue thy love and dreams always,
Or with regret forever tarry.