Song of Solomon Chapter 4
How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how beautiful!
Your eyes behind your veil are doves.
Your hair is like a flock of goats descending from Mount Gilead.
Your teeth are like a flock of sheep just shorn, coming up from the washing. Each has its twin; not one of them is alone.
Your lips are like a scarlet ribbon; your mouth is lovely. Your temples behind your veil are like the halves of a pomegranate.
Your neck is like the tower of David, built with elegance; on it hang a thousand shields, all of them shields of warriors.
Your two breasts are like two fawns, like twin fawns of a gazelle that browse among the lilies.
Until the day breaks and the shadows flee, I will go to the mountain of myrrh and to the hill of incense.
All beautiful you are, my darling; there is no flaw in you.
Come with me from Lebanon, my bride, come with me from Lebanon. Descend from the crest of Amana, from the top of Senir, the summit of Hermon, from the lions’ dens and the mountain haunts of the leopards.
You have stolen my heart, my sister, my bride; you have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your necklace.
How delightful is your love, my sister, my bride! How much more pleasing is your love than wine, and the fragrance of your perfume than any spice!
Your lips drop sweetness as honeycomb, my bride; milk and honey are under your tongue. The fragrance of your garments is like that of Lebanon.
You are a garden locked up, my sister, my bride; you are a spring enclosed, a sealed fountain.
Your plants are an orchard of pomegranates with choice fruits, with henna and nard, nard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, with every kind of incense tree, with myrrh and aloes and all the finest spices.
You are a garden fountain, a well of flowing water streaming down from Lebanon.
Awake, north wind, and come, south wind! Blow on my garden, that its fragrance may spread abroad. Let my lover come into his garden and taste its choice fruits.
What the Poem Says
- The speaker celebrates beauty. He uses many images from nature to describe the beloved’s eyes, hair, teeth, lips, temples, neck, breasts, and overall appearance. Each image is bright and vivid, making the poem feel like a picture in words.
- Nature as a backdrop for love. Mountains, valleys, gardens, and spices appear throughout the text. They show that love is not only an emotion but also something that grows and flourishes in a natural setting.
- The beloved is compared to precious things. Pomegranates, honeycomb, and fragrant herbs are symbols of fertility, sweetness, and abundance. The poem suggests that the beloved’s beauty brings life and joy to those who love her.
How the Poem Works – Literary Devices Explained for Kids
- Simile – A comparison using “like” or “as.”
Example: “Your hair is like a flock of goats descending from Mount Gilead.” The image makes us picture soft, flowing hair that moves gently. - Metaphor – A direct comparison without “like.”
Example: “You are a garden locked up.” This says the beloved is as precious and private as a hidden garden. - Imagery – Words that paint pictures in our minds.
The poem uses sights (“doves,” “pomegranates”), smells (“fragrance of your garments”), and tastes (“milk and honey”) to let us feel the scene. - Alliteration – Repeating the same consonant sound at the start of words.
Example: “Your teeth are like a flock of sheep just shorn.” The repeated “s” sounds give the line a gentle rhythm. - Personification – Giving human qualities to non‑human things.
Example: “Until the day breaks and the shadows flee.” Here, the day and shadows behave as if they can move or act. - Symbolism – Using objects to represent ideas.
Pomegranates symbolize fertility; honeycomb represents sweetness; a garden stands for growth and love.
Why These Devices Matter
- They make the poem memorable. The repeated images and sounds help us remember the words long after we read them.
- The poem feels alive. By describing sights, smells, and feelings, the speaker invites readers to experience love as a living, breathing thing.
- They show depth of meaning. A single line can carry many ideas—beauty, desire, nature, and devotion—all at once.
What We Learn About Love from This Poem
- The speaker sees love as a partnership that grows together. He invites the beloved to join him on mountains and in gardens, showing that love is a shared adventure.
- Love is described with words of praise and admiration, reminding us that speaking kindly about someone’s beauty can strengthen a relationship.
- Nature’s abundance—fruits, spices, water—mirrors how love can bring richness to our lives. When we care for one another, we help each other flourish.
Takeaway for Young Readers
The poem teaches that beauty is more than skin deep; it is a gift that connects people and nature. By using vivid language, the writer shows how love can be seen in everyday sights—like a bright flower or a sweet scent—and how those images help us feel close to one another.