Cavalier poet, any of a group of English gentlemen poets, called Cavaliers because of their loyalty to Charles I (1625–49) during the English Civil Wars, as opposed to Roundheads, who supported Parliament. - They were also cavaliers in their style of life and counted the writing of polished and elegant lyrics as only one of their many accomplishments as soldiers, courtiers, gallants, and wits. - The term embraces Richard Lovelace,Thomas Carew, Sir John Suckling, Edmund Waller, and Robert Herrick. - John Donne is considered a metaphysical poet.