The Latin phrase "carpe diem" can be translated into English as "seize the day." Seizing the day means making the most out of one's life. It is a theme that is commonly found in literature, most notably, poetry. Poetry, like most of literature, goes through periods of change. In the seventeenth century, poetry began to move away from humanism and began to explore the everyday man's thoughts and feelings. Robert Herrick and Andrew Marvell were two poets who wrote during this time of change. Their poems "To the Virgins, To Make Much of Time" and "To His Coy Mistress," are examples of the use of the carpe diem theme in poetry.

In "To the Virgins, To Make Much of Time," the poet uses images to convey a feeling of urgency, that one must make the most of their life while they can. Herrick's poem addresses young women who...