Thomas Campion

There is a Garden in Her Face

Garden as metaphor

Campion transforms a woman's face into a symbolic landscape, using botanical imagery to describe beauty and desire.

There is a garden in her face

Where roses and white lilies grow;

A heav'nly paradise is that place

Wherein all pleasant fruits do flow.

There cherries grow which none may buy

Till "Cherry-ripe" themselves do cry.

Courtship ritual coded

The repeated 'Cherry-ripe' refrain is a Renaissance courtship metaphor—cherries represent virginity and sexual availability.

Those cherries fairly do enclose

Of orient pearl a double row,

Which when her lovely laughter shows,

They look like rose-buds filled with snow;

Yet them nor peer nor prince can buy,

Courtship ritual coded

The repeated 'Cherry-ripe' refrain is a Renaissance courtship metaphor—cherries represent virginity and sexual availability.

Till "Cherry-ripe" themselves do cry.

Her eyes like angels watch them still;

Guarded feminine sexuality

Her eyes and brows are weaponized defenses, turning her beauty into something both alluring and dangerous.

Her brows like bended bows do stand,

Threat'ning with piercing frowns to kill

All that attempt, with eye or hand

Those sacred cherries to come nigh

Courtship ritual coded

The repeated 'Cherry-ripe' refrain is a Renaissance courtship metaphor—cherries represent virginity and sexual availability.

Till "Cherry-ripe" themselves do cry.