DAPHNIS
'Reason nor rhyme
Is in the chime!
It can't be five; I've scarce had time
To beg two kisses!'
The Annotated Edition
DAPHNIS by James Russell Lowell
Read aloud in ~1 minOpen reading mode →
A lover exclaims that it can't be five o'clock yet — he’s hardly had a moment to steal two kisses.
- Themes
- beauty, loneliness, love
§01Quick summary
What this poem is about
A lover exclaims that it can't be five o'clock yet — he’s hardly had a moment to steal two kisses. It's a lighthearted, playful complaint about how fast time passes when you’re with someone you adore. The entire poem feels like a single, delightful sigh of frustration.
§02Themes
Recurring themes
§03Line by line
Stanza by stanza, with notes
'Reason nor rhyme / Is in the chime!'
Editor's note
The speaker argues that the clock is nonsensical—there's no logic or order in it striking the hour so quickly. "Reason nor rhyme" playfully twists the well-known phrase "rhyme nor reason," also giving a nod to the poem's own brief, rhyming structure.
§04Tone & mood
How this poem feels
Light, playful, and affectionate. Lowell keeps the tone relaxed—this is more about playful mock-outrage than genuine distress. The quick, lively rhythm reflects the speaker's flustered energy.
§05Symbols & metaphors
Symbols & metaphors
- The chime / clock striking five
- The clock is the only true antagonist in the poem. It represents time — indifferent, relentless, and always showing up too soon when happiness hangs in the balance.
- Two kisses
- The kisses represent a brief moment of stolen intimacy. The fact that there are only two highlights how little time the lovers have had together before life pulls them apart.
- Daphnis (the title)
- Daphnis is a character from Greek pastoral tradition, known as a shepherd linked to love poetry and music. By naming the poem after him, this small domestic scene is connected to a rich history of love lyrics, adding a subtle classical significance to the joke.
§06Historical context
Historical context
James Russell Lowell (1819–1891) was a prominent American poet in the nineteenth century, known for his connections to the New England literary circle that included figures like Longfellow and Holmes. Beyond poetry, he was an influential editor, critic, and diplomat. While much of his work is serious and politically charged—he was a strong opponent of slavery—he also had a talent for lighter verse and occasional poems. "Daphnis" fits neatly into that lighter category. The title references the classical pastoral worlds of Theocritus and Virgil, where the shepherd Daphnis symbolizes the ideal lover-poet. By using that name for a four-line joke about a clock, Lowell cleverly engages with literary history, wrapping a very human and modern frustration in an ancient guise.
§07FAQ
Questions readers ask
A lover is lamenting that the clock has hit five o'clock way too soon. He’s hardly had a moment to share two kisses, making the chime of the hour seem ridiculous and unjust.
Daphnis is a shepherd from ancient Greek pastoral poetry, typically associated with love and music. Lowell uses this name to situate this small, humorous moment within a rich tradition of love lyrics — creating a playful contrast between an elevated classical reference and a simple, everyday complaint.
It's a play on the familiar phrase "rhyme or reason," indicating that something is utterly nonsensical. The speaker suggests that the clock striking five is totally illogical — time has flown by too quickly. There's also a clever joke at play, as the poem itself relies on rhyme.
The poem features a quick, tight rhyme scheme — "rhyme," "chime," and "time" all share the same sound, with "kisses" acting as a swift closing rhyme. The short lines give a breathless, hurried vibe that reflects the speaker's feeling that time is running out.
It's funny, but in a warm way. The over-the-top reaction to the clock, the small detail of "two kisses," and the brief four-line structure all suggest that Lowell aims for charm and humor instead of intense emotion.
The poem doesn't specify a listener, but it's evident that the speaker is talking to a lover — or at least sharing their thoughts while the lover is nearby. The closeness of referring to stolen kisses creates a sense of a private, whispered protest.
It fits within the tradition of light verse and carpe diem lyrics—poems that express regret about time slipping away too fast and encourage us to savor love while we can. Think of it as a compact version of Marvell's "To His Coy Mistress," distilled into a single comedic moment.
The brevity adds to the humor. The key idea is that time is too short—so Lowell keeps the poem brief. The structure reflects the meaning: it ends almost as soon as it starts, mirroring the speaker's fleeting moment.
Read next