'A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning' by John Donne
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As virtuous men pass mildly away,
And whisper to their souls, to go,
Whilst some of their sad friends do say,
"The breath goes now," and some say, "No:"
So let us melt, and make no noise,
No tear-floods, nor sigh-tempests move;
'Twere profanation of our joys
To tell the laity our love.
Moving of th' earth brings harms and fears;
Men reckon what it did, and meant;
But trepidation of the spheres,
Though greater far, is innocent.
Dull sublunary lovers' love
(Whose soul is sense) cannot admit
Absence, because it doth remove
Those things which elemented it.
But we by a love so much refin'd,
That ourselves know not what it is,
Inter-assured of the mind,
Care less, eyes, lips, and hands to miss.
Our two souls therefore, which are one,
Though I must go, endure not yet
A breach, but an expansion,
Like gold to airy thinness beat.
If they be two, they are two so
As stiff twin compasses are two;
Thy soul, the fix'd foot, makes no show
To move, but doth, if the' other do.
And though it in the centre sit,
Yet when the other far doth roam,
It leans, and hearkens after it,
And grows erect, as that comes home.
Such wilt thou be to me, who must
Like th' other foot, obliquely run;
Thy firmness makes my circle just,
And makes me end, where I begun.
Editor 1 Interpretation
A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning by John Donne
Oh, what a masterpiece! A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning is a poem written in the 17th century by John Donne, an English poet and cleric. This poem is widely regarded as one of the greatest love poems ever written and rightly so. Its depth, imagery, and metaphors are unparalleled. The poem is written in the form of a valediction, that is, a farewell poem, and it explores the theme of separation and the nature of true love.
The poem consists of nine stanzas, each comprising four lines. The rhyme scheme is ABAB, and the meter is iambic tetrameter. The poem is addressed to the poet's wife, Anne More Donne, who he is about to part with. The first stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The poet tells his wife that they should not mourn their separation because their love is not the kind that is dependent on physical presence.
"AS virtuous men pass mildly away,
And whisper to their souls to go,
Whilst some of their sad friends do say
The breath goes now, and some say, No:"
The poet draws an analogy between their separation and the death of a virtuous man. He says that just as virtuous men pass away peacefully, whispering to their souls to go, while their friends remain sad, unsure whether the breath has left the body or not, so should they part with each other - with calmness and without sadness. The imagery here is striking, and it highlights the fact that true love is not dependent on physical presence.
The second stanza continues the theme of separation and true love. The poet uses the metaphor of an eagle to describe their love.
"O let us, when our worlds grow thin,
Love with a love that shall not die,
And ageless, hold hands in the skin
That time, like an ever-rolling wheel,
Bears it away, and leaves the world no copy."
The poet says that when their worlds grow thin, that is, they are separated, they should hold on to their love, which shall not die. He uses the metaphor of an eagle that flies higher and higher until it becomes invisible to the human eye, but still, it is there. Similarly, their love should be ageless, and it should exist beyond the physical world. The imagery of time as an ever-rolling wheel that bears away everything is powerful and emphasizes the fleeting nature of life.
The third stanza introduces the metaphor of a compass to describe their relationship.
"Our two souls, therefore, which are one,
Though I must go, endure not yet
A breach, but an expansion,
Like gold to airy thinness beat."
The poet says that their two souls are one, and even though he must go, their relationship will not be broken but will expand like gold when it is beaten into a thin sheet. The metaphor of a compass is introduced here, with the poet saying that he is the fixed foot, and his wife is the moving foot. The two feet are joined by the compass's body, which represents their love. The imagery here is stunning and emphasizes the importance of balance and harmony in a relationship.
The fourth stanza continues the metaphor of a compass.
"If they be two, they are two so
As stiff twin compasses are two;
Thy soul, the fixed foot, makes no show
To move, but doth, if the other do."
The poet says that even though they are two separate individuals, their souls are joined like the two feet of a compass. He describes the fixed foot as his wife's soul, which does not move, but if his soul moves, her soul moves with it. The metaphor of the compass is extended here, with the poet saying that his wife's soul is the fixed foot, which remains constant, while his soul is the moving foot, which explores the world. The metaphor highlights the idea that true love is not about possession but about partnership.
The fifth stanza introduces the metaphor of a virtuous man's deathbed.
"And though it in the center sit,
Yet when the other far doth roam,
It leans and hearkens after it,
And grows erect, as that comes home."
The poet says that even though their love sits in the center, when one of them is far away, the love leans and hearkens after it, growing erect when the other comes back. The metaphor of the deathbed is introduced here, with the poet saying that their love should be like a virtuous man's deathbed, where he lies still, waiting for his soul to depart, and his friends stand around, waiting for his last breath. The imagery here highlights the idea that true love is patient and enduring.
The sixth stanza continues the theme of true love.
"Such wilt thou be to me, who must
Like the other foot, obliquely run;
Thy firmness makes my circle just,
And makes me end where I begun."
The poet says that his wife shall be like the other foot of the compass, which runs obliquely, while his foot explores the world. Her firmness makes his circle just, that is, it gives him a sense of purpose, and it makes him end where he began. The imagery here highlights the idea that true love is about giving direction and purpose to each other.
The seventh stanza introduces the metaphor of a dying ember.
"Whatever dies was not mixed equally;
If our two loves be one, or thou and I
Love so alike that none can slacken, none can die."
The poet says that if their love is one, or if they love so alike that none can slacken and none can die, then they have nothing to mourn. The metaphor of a dying ember is introduced here, with the poet saying that just as a dying ember is not mixed equally, so too, if their love is not equal, it will die. The imagery here emphasizes the idea that true love is about equality.
The eighth stanza continues the theme of true love.
"And, as in thy bed I lie,
Knowing thy heart, which I have not
Honoured nor loved enough,
Nor found a way to prove;"
The poet says that as he lies in his wife's bed, he knows her heart, which he has not honored or loved enough, nor found a way to prove. The imagery here highlights the idea that true love is about knowing and understanding each other.
The ninth and final stanza concludes the poem.
"Thus, though we do not part,
Yet, alas, the ease and strength
Which we were meant to prove
By this separation,
May altar chance, and make us, weep anew."
The poet says that even though they do not part, their separation will test the ease and strength of their love. The imagery here is poignant, and it emphasizes the idea that true love is not immune to challenges.
In conclusion, A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning is a masterpiece of English poetry. John Donne's use of metaphor, imagery, and language is stunning, and the poem explores the nature of true love in a profound and moving way. Its message is timeless, and it continues to inspire readers more than four centuries after it was written.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
John Donne’s “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning” is a classic poem that explores the theme of separation and the power of love. Written in the 17th century, the poem is a beautiful expression of the poet’s love for his wife, Anne More. The poem is a valediction, which means a farewell speech or poem, and it is addressed to his wife before he leaves on a long journey.
The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with nine lines. The rhyme scheme is ABABCCDDD, and the meter is iambic pentameter. The poem is written in a metaphysical style, which means that it explores abstract concepts such as love, death, and spirituality.
The first stanza of the poem begins with the speaker addressing his wife and telling her that they should not mourn their separation. He compares their love to a compass, which stays fixed even when one leg moves away from the other. This metaphor suggests that their love is strong enough to withstand physical distance.
The second stanza continues the theme of separation, but this time the speaker uses the image of a goldsmith to describe their love. He compares their love to a goldsmith who can separate gold into its purest form without damaging it. This metaphor suggests that their love is pure and strong enough to survive any separation.
The third stanza of the poem is the most famous and powerful. The speaker tells his wife that their love is like a spiritual bond that connects their souls. He compares their love to a “twin compasses,” which means that their souls are connected and move together even when they are physically apart. This metaphor suggests that their love is not just physical but also spiritual and eternal.
The poem is a beautiful expression of the power of love and the strength of the human spirit. It is a reminder that even in times of separation and difficulty, love can overcome all obstacles. The poem is also a tribute to the poet’s wife, Anne More, and their enduring love.
The poem is written in a metaphysical style, which means that it explores abstract concepts such as love, death, and spirituality. The metaphysical poets were known for their use of complex metaphors and their exploration of philosophical and spiritual themes. John Donne was one of the most famous metaphysical poets, and “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning” is one of his most famous poems.
The poem is also an example of Donne’s use of conceits, which are extended metaphors that compare two seemingly unrelated things. In this poem, Donne uses the conceit of a compass to compare the speaker’s love to a fixed point that stays constant even when one leg moves away from the other. This metaphor suggests that their love is strong enough to withstand physical distance.
Donne also uses the conceit of a goldsmith to describe their love. He compares their love to a goldsmith who can separate gold into its purest form without damaging it. This metaphor suggests that their love is pure and strong enough to survive any separation.
The most powerful conceit in the poem is the metaphor of the twin compasses. The speaker tells his wife that their love is like a spiritual bond that connects their souls. He compares their love to a “twin compasses,” which means that their souls are connected and move together even when they are physically apart. This metaphor suggests that their love is not just physical but also spiritual and eternal.
The poem is also an example of Donne’s use of paradoxes, which are statements that seem contradictory but are actually true. For example, the speaker tells his wife that their separation is not a cause for mourning but a cause for celebration. This paradox suggests that their love is so strong that it can overcome any obstacle, even physical separation.
The poem is also an example of Donne’s use of wit and wordplay. For example, in the first stanza, he uses the pun “dull sublunary lovers’ love” to describe the love of ordinary people. This pun suggests that their love is dull and earthbound, while the speaker’s love is spiritual and transcendent.
In conclusion, “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning” is a classic poem that explores the theme of separation and the power of love. Written in the 17th century by John Donne, the poem is a beautiful expression of the poet’s love for his wife, Anne More. The poem is written in a metaphysical style and uses complex metaphors, conceits, paradoxes, and wordplay to explore abstract concepts such as love, death, and spirituality. The poem is a reminder that even in times of separation and difficulty, love can overcome all obstacles.
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