BLOW,BLOW THOU WINTER WIND

 

                BLOW,BLOW  THOU WINTER WIND

 

            Given below is a lyric poem titled ‘Blow, Blow Thou Winter Wind”.  It  was sung by Amiens, a character in Shakespeare’s play “As You Like It.”

           

            It has been rightly said by a literary critic : “the poem uses the harshness of the winter wind as a metaphor for human unkindness, stating that the betrayal and ingratitude from people is far worse than the physical cold.”  It  also “explores themes of bitter friendship, the falseness of human relationships, and the transient nature of life.”

 

            Look at the text of the poem:

 

“Blow, blow, thou winter wind,

Thou art so unkind

As man’s ingratitude.

Thy tooth is not so keen,

Because thou art not seen.            

Although thy breath be rude.

 

Heigh-ho sing, heigh-ho unto the green holly

Most friendship is feigning,most loving mere folly.

Then heigh-ho the holly.

This life is most jolly.

 

Freeze , freeze, thou bitter sky.

That dost not bite so nigh

As benefits forgot

Though thou the waters warp.

Thy sting is not so sharp

As friend remembered not. “

                                                ********

G.R.Kanwal

28 November 2025,