'The Canonization' by John Donne


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For God's sake hold your tongue, and let me love,
Or chide my palsy, or my gout,
My five grey hairs, or ruin'd fortune flout,
With wealth your state, your mind with arts improve,
Take you a course, get you a place,
Observe his Honour, or his Grace,
Or the King's real, or his stamped face
Contemplate, what you will, approve,
So you will let me love.

Alas, alas, who's injur'd by my love?
What merchant's ships have my sighs drown'd?
Who says my tears have overflow'd his ground?
When did my colds a forward spring remove?
When did the heats which my veins fill
Add one more to the plaguy bill?
Soldiers find wars, and lawyers find out still
Litigious men, which quarrels move,
Though she and I do love.

Call us what you will, we are made such by love;
Call her one, me another fly,
We'are tapers too, and at our own cost die,
And we in us find the'eagle and the dove.
The phoenix riddle hath more wit
By us; we two being one, are it.
So, to one neutral thing both sexes fit,
We die and rise the same, and prove
Mysterious by this love.

We can die by it, if not live by love,
And if unfit for tombs and hearse
Our legend be, it will be fit for verse;
And if no piece of chronicle we prove,
We'll build in sonnets pretty rooms;
As well a well-wrought urn becomes
The greatest ashes, as half-acre tombs,
And by these hymns all shall approve
Us canoniz'd for love;

And thus invoke us: "You, whom reverend love
Made one another's hermitage;
You, to whom love was peace, that now is rage;
Who did the whole world's soul contract, and drove
Into the glasses of your eyes
(So made such mirrors, and such spies,
That they did all to you epitomize)
Countries, towns, courts: beg from above
A pattern of your love!"

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Canonization: A Literary Masterpiece Dissected

Are you in search of a poem that embodies the essence of love and spirituality? Look no further than John Donne's The Canonization. This classic piece of literature is an ode to love that transcends physical boundaries, a marriage of two souls that becomes a symbol of divine devotion. A celebration of love that is both worldly and spiritual, it is a poem that has stood the test of time and continues to inspire readers and writers alike.

The Structure

The Canonization is a poem consisting of 10 stanzas of nine lines each, with the rhyme scheme of abbacccaa. The stanzas follow a consistent pattern of alternating rhyme and iambic pentameter. The poem is divided into two sections, the first five stanzas being a plea for the couple's love to be seen as legitimate, and the latter half being an exaltation of their love, with religious imagery and references to saints and martyrs.

The structure of the poem is an embodiment of the themes it explores. The alternating rhyme scheme represents the union of the two lovers, each stanza being a mirror image of the other. The use of iambic pentameter gives the poem a rhythmic flow, that lends itself to the theme of love being a force that moves and drives us forward. The division of the poem into two sections represents the dual nature of love, both physical and spiritual, and the transformation that takes place when they become one.

The Themes

The Canonization is a poem rich in themes, exploring the depths of human emotions and the spiritual realm. The themes range from love, devotion, spirituality, and transformation, to the power of language, and the nature of reality. At the core of the poem is the theme of love, which is explored in all its dimensions.

Love

The poem is an exaltation of love, portraying it as a force that transcends physical boundaries and elevates the human soul to a higher plane. The love that Donne describes is not just physical, but spiritual, a love that is intense, all-consuming, and transformative. It is a love that is beyond the reach of mundane concerns, and one that has the power to elevate us to the realm of the divine.

Spirituality

The Canonization is a poem that is steeped in religious imagery and allusions. The lovers are portrayed as saints, and their love as a form of devotion that is comparable to a religious experience. The poem is filled with references to martyrs, saints, and even the Holy Trinity, depicting love as a spiritual force that can lead us to the divine. The poem celebrates the union of the physical and the spiritual, portraying love as a bridge that can connect us to the divine.

Transformation

The Canonization is a poem that celebrates the transformative power of love. The lovers are transformed from mere mortals to saints, their love becoming a symbol of devotion that transcends the limitations of earthly existence. The poem is a celebration of the transformative power of love, depicting it as a force that can elevate us to a higher plane of existence.

Power of Language

The Canonization is a poem that explores the power of language. The poem is filled with wordplay, puns, and metaphors, that lend it a rich, layered texture. The language used in the poem is not just a means of communication, but a force that can shape and transform reality. The poem demonstrates the power of language to create and transform, to evoke emotion, and to touch the soul.

Nature of Reality

The Canonization is a poem that explores the nature of reality, portraying it as a fluid, mutable concept. The poem is filled with paradoxes and contradictions, depicting reality as a complex, multi-faceted concept. The lovers are portrayed as both mortal and immortal, physical and spiritual, and their love is depicted as both mundane and divine. The poem challenges our understanding of reality, and invites us to explore the depths of human experience.

The Interpretation

The Canonization is a poem that invites multiple interpretations, each as valid as the other. At its core, the poem is an exploration of the nature of love and its transformative power. It is a poem that celebrates the union of the physical and the spiritual, portraying love as a force that can elevate us to a higher plane of existence. The poem is a testament to the power of language, and its ability to shape and transform reality.

The poem is an embodiment of the themes it explores, with its structure and language lending themselves to the exploration of love and spirituality. The use of rhyme and iambic pentameter gives the poem a rhythmic flow, that reflects the transformative power of love. The division of the poem into two sections represents the dual nature of love, physical and spiritual, and the transformation that takes place when they become one.

The Canonization is a poem that has stood the test of time, inspiring readers and writers for generations. It is a literary masterpiece that explores the depths of human emotions and the spiritual realm, inviting us to explore the nature of reality and the transformative power of love. It is a poem that celebrates the power of language, and its ability to shape and transform reality. The Canonization is a poem that is both earthly and divine, a celebration of love that is both physical and spiritual, a masterpiece that will continue to inspire and captivate readers for generations to come.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Canonization: A Masterpiece of Metaphysical Poetry

John Donne, the 17th-century English poet, is known for his metaphysical poetry that explores complex philosophical and spiritual themes through intricate wordplay and imagery. One of his most celebrated works is "The Canonization," a poem that delves into the nature of love, religion, and the human condition. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem's structure, language, and meaning, and explore why it remains a timeless masterpiece of English literature.

Structure and Language

"The Canonization" is a poem of 36 lines, divided into 9 stanzas of 4 lines each, known as quatrains. The poem follows a strict rhyme scheme of ABAB, CDCD, EFEF, GG, with the final couplet (GG) serving as a conclusion to the preceding stanzas. The poem's meter is irregular, with lines varying in length and rhythm, reflecting the poet's free-flowing thoughts and emotions.

The language of the poem is rich in metaphors, allusions, and paradoxes, typical of Donne's metaphysical style. The poem's title itself is a metaphor, as it refers to the process of being declared a saint by the Catholic Church, which the poet uses to elevate the status of his love to a divine level. The poem's opening lines set the tone for the rest of the poem, as the speaker addresses his beloved with a series of rhetorical questions:

"For God's sake hold your tongue, and let me love, Or chide my palsy, or my gout, My five gray hairs, or ruined fortune flout, With wealth your state, your mind with arts improve,"

The speaker's plea to his beloved to "hold your tongue" is a paradox, as he is asking her to remain silent while he expresses his love for her. The speaker then goes on to list his physical and social shortcomings, such as his "palsy" and "ruined fortune," which he invites his beloved to mock or criticize. However, he also suggests that his love for her is a source of spiritual and intellectual enrichment, as it can improve her "state" and "mind."

The poem's central metaphor is that of love as a form of canonization, or the process of being recognized as a saint. The speaker compares his love to the devotion of religious martyrs, who were willing to die for their faith:

"For love, all love of other sights controls, And makes one little room an everywhere. Let sea-discoverers to new worlds have gone, Let maps to other, worlds on worlds have shown,"

The speaker argues that his love is not inferior to the heroic acts of martyrs, as it has the power to transcend physical boundaries and create a world of its own. The metaphor of love as a "little room" that becomes "an everywhere" is a powerful image of the transformative power of love, which can expand one's consciousness and perception of reality.

The poem's final couplet is a paradoxical statement that sums up the speaker's argument:

"And thus invoke us: 'You whom reverend love Made one another's hermitage; you to whom love was peace, That now is an exorcist's bell, I say, Love me again.'"

The speaker suggests that his love has the power to "invoke" or call upon the reader to recognize the validity and sanctity of his love. He also implies that his love has the power to transform the world from a place of conflict and chaos to one of peace and harmony. The final paradox is that the speaker asks his beloved to "love me again," even though he has not explicitly stated that she has stopped loving him. This paradoxical statement suggests that love is a continuous process of renewal and transformation, rather than a static state of being.

Meaning and Significance

"The Canonization" is a poem that explores the nature of love and its relationship to religion and spirituality. The poem's central metaphor of love as a form of canonization suggests that love can elevate the human experience to a divine level, and that it has the power to transform the world. The poem's use of paradoxes and metaphors reflects the complexity and ambiguity of human emotions and relationships, and suggests that love is a multifaceted and dynamic force that defies easy definition.

The poem's exploration of the relationship between love and religion is particularly significant, as it reflects the poet's own struggles with his faith and his desire to reconcile his spiritual and earthly desires. Donne was a devout Christian who later became a priest, but his poetry often reflects his doubts and uncertainties about his faith. "The Canonization" can be seen as an attempt to reconcile his love for a woman with his religious beliefs, by elevating his love to a divine level and suggesting that it is a form of spiritual devotion.

The poem's use of metaphysical conceits, or extended metaphors that compare seemingly unrelated things, is also significant, as it reflects the poet's desire to explore complex philosophical and spiritual themes through imaginative and playful language. The poem's metaphors of love as a "little room" that becomes "an everywhere" and of love as a form of canonization are powerful images that capture the transformative power of love and its ability to transcend physical and social boundaries.

Conclusion

"The Canonization" is a masterpiece of metaphysical poetry that explores complex themes of love, religion, and the human condition through intricate language and imagery. The poem's use of paradoxes, metaphors, and conceits reflects the poet's desire to capture the complexity and ambiguity of human emotions and relationships, and to explore the relationship between love and spirituality. The poem's enduring significance lies in its ability to capture the transformative power of love and its ability to elevate the human experience to a divine level.

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