The Phoenix and the Turtle

About “The Phoenix and the Turtle”

The Phoenix and the Turtle is an allegorical poem by William Shakespeare, first published in 1601 as part of Love's Martyr, a longer work by Robert Chester. The poem, often described as "the first great published metaphysical poem," has been the subject of many conflicting interpretations. It was published without a title, and the title The Phoenix and the Turtle is a conventional label. The poem features two birds: the mythological phoenix and the turtle dove. (Summary adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.)