They Flee from Me

Sir Thomas Wyatt was an English poet and courtier who lived during the reign of Henry VIII. He is considered one of the most important poets of the English Renaissance, and his work helped to introduce Italian sonnet forms to English poetry. One of Wyatt's most famous poems is "They Flee from Me," which is a short lyric poem that expresses the speaker's feelings of pain and regret at the loss of a lover. The poem is written in rhyme royal, a stanza form that consists of seven lines of iambic pentameter followed by a rhyming couplet. The poem begins with the speaker lamenting the fact that the women who once "sought" him now "flee" from him. He describes them as being "gentle, tame, and meek" in the past, but now they are "wild" and "do not remember" their former love for him. The speaker goes on to recall a specific time when one of these women came to his chamber "with naked foot." He describes her as being "sweetly" and "fain," and he says that she "caught" him in her arms and "kissed" him. However, the speaker now realizes that this moment of intimacy was only a fleeting illusion. The woman has now "fled" from him, and he is left to wonder what he has done wrong. The poem ends with the speaker asking the woman what she has "deserved" to be treated in this way. He expresses his bitterness and regret, but he also acknowledges that he may have been the one who caused her to leave him. "They Flee from Me" is a powerful poem that explores the complex emotions of love, loss, and regret. It is a poem that has been praised by critics for its lyrical beauty and its psychological insight. The poem is also notable for its use of language. Wyatt's use of vivid imagery and figurative language helps to create a sense of immediacy and emotional intensity. The poem's language is also notable for its simplicity and directness. Wyatt's words speak directly to the reader's heart, and they evoke a powerful emotional response. "They Flee from Me" is a poem that has stood the test of time. It is a poem that continues to be read and appreciated by readers today. It is a poem that speaks to the universal human experience of love, loss, and regret. Here are some additional thoughts on the poem:

The poem is written in the first person, which gives the reader a sense of intimacy with the speaker.

The poem uses a variety of poetic devices, including imagery, metaphor, and simile, to create a vivid and emotional portrait of the speaker's experience.

The poem's language is simple and direct, but it is also powerful and evocative.

The poem's themes of love, loss, and regret are universal, and they continue to resonate with readers today.

I hope you enjoyed this blog post on Sir Thomas Wyatt's poem "They Flee from Me." If you would like to learn more about Wyatt's work, I encourage you to read his other poems or to do some research on his life and career.