"Delight in Disorder" by Robert Herrick

# 17

(Talk about mismatched clothing!) -->

Curiously, the structure of "Delight in Disorder" compliments the disorder described in the poem. The poem is written with a broke rhyme scheme, where some lines rhyme in no particular order. The speaker clearly appreciates and finds pleasure in the simple aspect of dress as the first description is "sweet disorder." Words and phrases like "cuff neglected," "fine distraction," "ribbons flow confusedly," and "a careless shoestring" set a tone for acceptance in imperfection of dress. The speaker sees that a lack of perfection is indeed the perfect form of art.
Perhaps disorder is appreciated on many levels of society. People pride over Picasso's abstract paintings; style combines mismatched clothing articles for a new look; people in New York two years ago would PAY to have their nails painted so the polish looked chipped; and kids are encouraged to get into a bit of trouble every once in a while for "experience purposes." Society seems to embrace disorder as a natural way of living.