Delight in Disorder

"I see a wild civility;

Do more bewitch me than when art

Is too precise in every part"

"Delight in Disorder"

Robert Herrick

This poem is full of oxymorons. For example, "sweet disorder," "fine distraction," and "wild civility." The purpose of these oxymorons is to reveal a truth about disorder. As the title claims, the speaker finds delight in disorder, which is why he claims it to be "sweet." He uses clothes as examples to portray his feelings about things being disorganized and disordered. The hastily-made clothing make for a unique appearance and "bewitch" the speaker. Instead of some ordinary, perfectly sewn, stream-lined outfit, this speaker prefers carelessness because it adds character. Art is all about deeper meanings and originality, so to have disorder makes it unique and different.

While I was reading this poem, I couldn't help but to think about abstract art, and how some artists seem to just throw paint sloppily onto a canvas. This speaker seems to be the kind of person that would deeply appreciate this type of art, because it does not follow normal rules of conformity about what is considered to be unique. 

I think that this poem can apply to life in a broader sense too. Instead of being just about the beauty of disorderly clothing, it can also mean that in life we can be enthralled by things if we think about things deeper, and go off the "precise" and concrete viewpoint of everything, and search for a different way of looking at imperfections in life.