"To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time" is a poem written by Robert Herrick in the 17th century. The poem is in the genre of carpe diem, Latin for seize the day.

It goes as follows :

 Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,
 Old time is still a-flying ;
 And this same flower that smiles today
 Tomorrow will be dying.

 The glorious lamp of heaven the sun,
 The higher he’s a-getting,
 The sooner will his race be run,
 And nearer he’s to setting.

 That age is best which is the first,
 When youth and blood are warmer ;
 But being spent, the worse, and worst
 Times still succeed the former.

 Then be not coy, but use your time,
 And, while ye may, go marry ;
 For, having lost but once your prime,
 You may forever tarry.

Listen here

Watch this extract from "Dead Poets Society"

You will read information about the romantic painter J.W. Waterhouse who illustrated the poem.