Whoso List to Hunt

Sir Thomas Wyatt 1503 (Allington Castle, Kent) – 1542 (Clifton Maybank House, Dorset)



Whoso list to hunt, I know where is an hind,
But as for me, helas! I may no more.
The vain travail hath worried me so sore,
I am of them that furthest come behind.
Yet may I by no means, my worried mind
Draw from the deer; but as she fleeth afore
Fainting I follow. I leave off therefore,
Since in a net I seek to hold the wind.
Who list her hunt, I put him out of doubt,
As well as I, may spend his time in vain;
And graven in diamonds in letters plain
There is written, her fair neck round about,
"Noli me tangere, for Caesar's I am,
And wild to hold, though I seem tame."

About this poem

"Whoso List to Hunt" is a poignant exploration of love, desire, and the challenges of pursuing the unattainable. Through the metaphor of the hunt, Wyatt crafts a complex narrative that combines courtly love conventions with personal and political undertones. The poem's emotional depth and intricate imagery contribute to its enduring appeal.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified by acronimous on January 09, 2024

40 sec read
620

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABBAABBACDDCEF
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 594
Words 136
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 14

Sir Thomas Wyatt

Sir Thomas Wyatt was a 16th-century English politician, ambassador, and lyric poet credited with introducing the sonnet to English literature. more…

All Sir Thomas Wyatt poems | Sir Thomas Wyatt Books

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    "Whoso List to Hunt" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 29 Mar. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/35430/whoso-list-to-hunt>.

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