Since There's No Help by Micheal Drayton

While reading the poem Since There’s No Help, I think of two lovers. Of course who wouldn’t. However it seems that the lovers cannot be together because the one is ill. The first line: “Since there’s no help, come let us kiss and part;” leads me to believe the illness cannot be cured and is presumably fatal. As the poem continues it becomes clearer that the couple has no choice but to part. However, it seems that the couple may have a chance of reunion. (And when we meet at any time again) . This was my initial reaction after reading the poem once, thoroughly.

After analyzing the poem the image of a young man going off to war and having to bid his lover a due seems to be what forces the separation. He may have been have been ill at first but the fear of contracting fatal diseases or being wounded must be present since he is going off to war. The agreement of the separation seemed to be that they may have other lovers but if they still loved each other at reunion they would spend their last moments with one another.

The poem seems to be a tragedy and can also be seem as an hour glass format. The poem starts off with a break up and is directly followed with feeling of gladness and freedom. After hopes of reuniting and rekindling are expressed which are then followed by another separation which would be death.