To his Coy Mistress

By Andrew Marvell

The title makes the reader expect the speaking voice's lady is not ready to satisfy her love's requests. The reason is not clear because the reader does not know why the mistress is sad to be coy. Is it because she is shy? Is there any other reason for her attitude? This is a good reason to read the poem.

The choice of the world mistress, however, immediately makes the reader understand that the man's heart is totally hers. 

Moreover, from the title the reader can also understand that the poet is referring to the woman of a man, and not to his woman.

Analysis of the poem:

lines 1-10

In the first lines Marvell is thinking about time's waste, because if they had much more time and space, they would have been able to sit down, think and choice what way to walk together and in which way spend their love. In fact in his opinion the woman should search and find rubies by the Gange's side while he is complaining by the Humber's tide. 

Then the sonneteer, to underline and show his love for the woman, adds that if he had the possibility, he would begin to love her before the Flood; and, if she does not return his love, she could refuse him until the conversion of the Jews, that is to say never. 

In fact, in the poet's idea, the woman is not allowed to refuse him, even if she belongs to another man.