'The Expiration' by John Donne
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So, so, break off this last lamenting kiss,
Which sucks two souls, and vapors both away,
Turn thou ghost that way, and let me turn this,
And let our selves benight our happiest day,
We ask none leave to love; nor will we owe
Any, so cheap a death, as saying, Go;
Go; and if that word have not quite kil'd thee,
Ease me with death, by bidding me go too.
Oh, if it have, let my word work on me,
And a just office on a murderer do.
Except it be too late, to kill me so,
Being double dead, going, and bidding, go.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Expiration: A Masterpiece by John Donne
When it comes to the greatest poets of English literature, John Donne is undoubtedly one of the most renowned names. His contribution to the poetic world is beyond measure, and his collection of poems has been studied and analyzed by scholars for centuries. In this article, we will delve deeper into one of his most celebrated works, "The Expiration," and try to interpret its meaning and significance.
An Overview of "The Expiration"
"The Expiration" is a sonnet that John Donne wrote in the 16th century. It follows the traditional form of a sonnet, consisting of fourteen lines and employing iambic pentameter. The poem is also known by its alternate title, "So, so, break off this last lamenting kiss," and was first published in the collection, Holy Sonnets in 1633.
The poem revolves around the theme of love and the inevitable end that every relationship must face. Donne speaks directly to his lover, urging her to break off the final kiss and let their love expire. He portrays the inevitability of death and how it can bring an end to even the most passionate of relationships.
Interpretation of "The Expiration"
"The Expiration" is a poem that is rich in symbolism and metaphorical language. Each line is carefully crafted to convey the poet's message of the fleeting nature of love and the certainty of death. Let us examine the poem line by line to understand its deeper meaning:
So, so, break off this last lamenting kiss,
The poem opens with a repetition of the word "so," which creates a sense of urgency and emphasizes the need to end the moment. "Break off this last lamenting kiss" is a metaphor for the end of a relationship, and the word "lamenting" suggests that the end is not a happy one.
Which sucks two souls, and vapours both away,
The phrase "sucks two souls" is a metaphor for the passion and intensity of a relationship. The word "vapours" suggests that such passion is fleeting and temporary. The line implies that the end of the relationship will take away not only their physical presence but also the essence of their love.
Turn thou ghost that way, and let me turn this,
Here, Donne refers to death as "ghost" and commands it to turn away from him as he turns towards his lover. The line implies that love is more important to Donne than even the certainty of death.
And let ourselves benight our happiest day;
The phrase "benight our happiest day" means to end their happiest day or moment. The line suggests that even their happiest moment is temporary and fleeting, and they must accept the end of their relationship.
We ask none leave to love; nor will we owe
Here, Donne declares his independence and implies that he doesn't need anyone's permission to love. The line suggests that love is a personal choice and not something to be governed by external factors.
Any so cheap a debt as a sounding kiss.
Donne uses the metaphor of a "sounding kiss" to imply that physical intimacy is a momentary pleasure and is not worth the emotional debt that it creates. The line suggests that one should not take love for granted and treat it as a temporary affair.
But, like a desperate gamester, all or naught
Donne uses the metaphor of a "desperate gamester" to imply that love is a gamble, and one must go all-in or leave. The line suggests that love requires full commitment and cannot be engaged with half-heartedly.
We bet, and run, and to one goal we both
The phrase "to one goal we both" suggests that the lovers are working together and share a common objective. The line implies that love requires teamwork, and it is not a solo affair.
And quickly, quickly, our personal death.
Donne uses the repetition of the word "quickly" to emphasize the inevitability of their personal death. The line suggests that even the most passionate of relationships is temporary and will eventually end with death.
Significance of "The Expiration"
"The Expiration" is a profound poem that explores the fleeting nature of love and the inevitability of death. It is a meditation on the transience of life and the need to cherish every moment. Donne uses powerful metaphors and symbolic language to convey his message of the importance of love and the need to value it.
The poem is also significant for its form and structure. "The Expiration" follows the traditional form of a sonnet, consisting of fourteen lines and employing iambic pentameter. Donne's use of rhyme and meter creates a sense of harmony and balance, and the poem flows smoothly from one line to the next.
In conclusion, "The Expiration" is a masterpiece of English literature that explores the universal theme of love and death. It is a meditation on the transience of life and the importance of cherishing every moment. Donne's use of metaphorical language and symbolic imagery creates a powerful message that resonates with readers even today.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Expiration by John Donne: A Masterpiece of Metaphysical Poetry
John Donne, the famous metaphysical poet of the 17th century, is known for his complex and intricate poems that explore the themes of love, death, and spirituality. One of his most celebrated works is The Expiration, a poem that delves deep into the nature of love and the inevitability of its end. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail, exploring its themes, structure, and literary devices.
The Expiration is a sonnet, a form of poetry that consists of 14 lines and follows a strict rhyme scheme. Donne's sonnet is divided into two quatrains (four-line stanzas) and two tercets (three-line stanzas), with a rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. The poem is written in iambic pentameter, a rhythmic pattern that consists of five iambs (a metrical foot that consists of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable) per line. This gives the poem a musical quality and a sense of flow that enhances its emotional impact.
The Expiration begins with a paradoxical statement: "So, so, break off this last lamenting kiss." The repetition of "so" creates a sense of urgency and emphasizes the speaker's desire to end the kiss. The word "break" suggests a violent action, as if the speaker wants to sever the connection between himself and his lover. The phrase "last lamenting kiss" implies that this is the final goodbye, the end of a relationship that has been marked by sorrow and regret.
In the second quatrain, the speaker reflects on the nature of love and its transience. He compares love to a "melting kiss" that fades away like snow in the sun. The metaphor of the melting kiss suggests that love is fragile and ephemeral, that it can be easily destroyed by external forces. The image of snow melting in the sun is also a symbol of the passage of time and the inevitability of change. The speaker seems to be resigned to the fact that love cannot last forever, that it is bound to expire like everything else in life.
The third quatrain introduces a new metaphor: love as a "poor prisoner" who is trapped in the body of the lover. The speaker describes how love "pines" and "wastes" away inside the lover, unable to escape or find release. This metaphor suggests that love is a burden, a source of pain and suffering that the lover must bear. The image of the prisoner also implies a sense of confinement and restriction, as if love is something that limits the freedom and autonomy of the lover.
In the final tercet, the speaker addresses his lover directly, telling her to "let me go." He asks her to release him from the burden of love, to allow him to be free and independent. The phrase "my last breath" suggests that the speaker is willing to die rather than continue to be trapped in the cycle of love and loss. The final couplet, "Or, if thy breast with her warm blood be stained, / Do it, my love, and so I'll live again," is a paradoxical statement that suggests that the speaker's death will bring him back to life. The image of the lover's blood staining his breast is a metaphor for the pain and suffering that love can cause, but it also implies a sense of renewal and rebirth.
The Expiration is a powerful and moving poem that explores the complex emotions of love and loss. Its use of metaphors and imagery creates a vivid and evocative portrait of the speaker's inner world, while its structure and rhythm give the poem a musical quality that enhances its emotional impact. The poem's themes of transience, confinement, and renewal are universal and timeless, making it a masterpiece of metaphysical poetry that continues to resonate with readers today.
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