Marvell's poem, which might be mistaken for a love poem, is vital, energetic and deeply chauvinist.  But at the risk of sounding chauvinist myself, that's not necessarily a bad thing.

It's fair to say, that in such a politically correct world, this particular poem shouldn't stand much of a chance of survival, but it continues to hang on because it is such a delight.

From the opening words we are thrown into the frenetic efforts of one man's attempt to lure a woman into bed.   Of course, from the opening lines it sounds instead as though he is announcing his own undying and uncompromising love and affection.  The language is florid and grandiose.  The rhetoric is decidedly romantic.  But it is all leading somewhere.  The narrator, not necessarily Marlowe I must add, prefaces his own fairly indecent proposal with the mitigating plea that time is fleeting.

Had we but world enough and time

This coyness, lady, were no crime.

But . . .

If they don't hurry, it'll be too late, they will both be in the grave, and 'then how will they feel?' is the ironic and wholly self-serving argument.

The logic is so arrow-straight, and the tone so importunate that we have to admire the energy that goes into this particular seduction.

To our modern minds the alarming image of  "vegetable love [growing] vaster than empires" is a sobering thought, so much the better that these earthly, and very mortal lovers should consummate their love quickly before the "marble vault" of their burial tombs echo with the dry rasp of devouring worms!

One of the most pressing issues in this poem is how we should perceive the attempted seduction that is taking place.  Is it passionate and honest, or cynical and manipulative.  What is the role of the female in this poem?  Victim or Coy Lover?  How does the poet himself perceive the role of the male here.  Does the poet approve of the seduction?  Jump into our discussion thread and join in the conversation. 

Take a look now at another of Donne´s poems, "The Flea," in which a man uses a flea to try to rationalize the seduction of his would-be lover, and symbolize (in a rather bizarre way) their emotional (and anticipated sexual) union.  How does the narrative drive or voice compare to Marvell´s, or indeed Herrick´s ("To the Virgins") "carpe diem" themes?  How persuasive are these poems?