Hymn to God My God in My Sickness - John Donne
/Hymn to God My God in My Sickness - John Donne/
A Reflective Meditation on Faith and Mortality
Original:
SINCE I am coming to that Holy room,
Modern:
Since I am coming to that Holy room,
Original:
Where, with thy choir of saints for evermore,
Modern:
Where, with your choir of saints forevermore,
Original:
I shall be made thy Music; as I come
Modern:
I shall be made Your music; as I come
Original:
I tune the Instrument here at the door,
Modern:
I tune the instrument here at the door,
Original:
And what I must do then, think here before.
Modern:
And what I must do then, I contemplate beforehand.
Original:
Whilst my Physitians by their love are grown
Modern:
While my physicians, by their care, have grown
Original:
Cosmographers, and I their map, who lie
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To be cosmographers, and I their map, who lie
Original:
Flat on this bed, that by them may be shown
Modern:
Flat on this bed, so that they may reveal
Original:
That this is my south-west discovery
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That this is my southwest discovery
Original:
Per fretum febris, by these streights to die,
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Through fever’s straits, by these channels to die.
Original:
I joy, that in these straits I see my West;
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I rejoice, for in these straits I behold my West;
Original:
For, though their currents yield return to none,
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For though those currents offer no return,
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What shall my West hurt me? As West and East
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What harm can my West do? As West and East
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In all flat Maps—and I am one—are one,
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On every flat map—and I am one—are united,
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So death doth touch the Resurrection.
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So death is met by Resurrection.
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Is the Pacific Sea my home? Or are
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Is the Pacific Sea my home? Or are
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The Eastern riches? Is Jerusalem?
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The Eastern riches? Is Jerusalem?
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Anyan, and Magellan, and Gibraltar,
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Anyan, Magellan, and Gibraltar,
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All straits, and none but straits, are ways to them
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All straits, and nothing but straits, lead to them
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Whether where Japhet dwelt, or Cham, or Shem.
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Whether in the lands of Japhet, Cham, or Shem.
Original:
We think that Paradise and Calvary,
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We imagine that Paradise and Calvary,
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Christs Cross, and Adams tree, stood in one place;
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Christ’s Cross, and Adam’s tree, stood in the same place;
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Look Lord, and find both Adams met in me;
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Look, Lord, and find both Adams joined in me;
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As the first Adams sweat surrounds my face,
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As the first Adam’s sweat envelops my face,
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May the last Adams blood my soul embrace.
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May the last Adam’s blood my soul embrace.
Original:
So, in his purple wrapp'd receive me Lord;
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So, wrapped in His purple, receive me, Lord;
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By these his thorns, give me his other Crown;
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By these His thorns, grant me His other crown;
Original:
And as to others soules I preach'd thy word,
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And just as I preached Your word to other souls,
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Be this my Text, my Sermon to mine own,
Modern:
Let this be my text, my sermon to myself,
Original:
Therefore that he may raise the Lord throws down.
Modern:
Thus, that He may raise me up, the Lord casts me down.
SINCE I am coming to that Holy room,
Modern:
Since I am coming to that Holy room,
Original:
Where, with thy choir of saints for evermore,
Modern:
Where, with your choir of saints forevermore,
Original:
I shall be made thy Music; as I come
Modern:
I shall be made Your music; as I come
Original:
I tune the Instrument here at the door,
Modern:
I tune the instrument here at the door,
Original:
And what I must do then, think here before.
Modern:
And what I must do then, I contemplate beforehand.
Original:
Whilst my Physitians by their love are grown
Modern:
While my physicians, by their care, have grown
Original:
Cosmographers, and I their map, who lie
Modern:
To be cosmographers, and I their map, who lie
Original:
Flat on this bed, that by them may be shown
Modern:
Flat on this bed, so that they may reveal
Original:
That this is my south-west discovery
Modern:
That this is my southwest discovery
Original:
Per fretum febris, by these streights to die,
Modern:
Through fever’s straits, by these channels to die.
Original:
I joy, that in these straits I see my West;
Modern:
I rejoice, for in these straits I behold my West;
Original:
For, though their currents yield return to none,
Modern:
For though those currents offer no return,
Original:
What shall my West hurt me? As West and East
Modern:
What harm can my West do? As West and East
Original:
In all flat Maps—and I am one—are one,
Modern:
On every flat map—and I am one—are united,
Original:
So death doth touch the Resurrection.
Modern:
So death is met by Resurrection.
Original:
Is the Pacific Sea my home? Or are
Modern:
Is the Pacific Sea my home? Or are
Original:
The Eastern riches? Is Jerusalem?
Modern:
The Eastern riches? Is Jerusalem?
Original:
Anyan, and Magellan, and Gibraltar,
Modern:
Anyan, Magellan, and Gibraltar,
Original:
All straits, and none but straits, are ways to them
Modern:
All straits, and nothing but straits, lead to them
Original:
Whether where Japhet dwelt, or Cham, or Shem.
Modern:
Whether in the lands of Japhet, Cham, or Shem.
Original:
We think that Paradise and Calvary,
Modern:
We imagine that Paradise and Calvary,
Original:
Christs Cross, and Adams tree, stood in one place;
Modern:
Christ’s Cross, and Adam’s tree, stood in the same place;
Original:
Look Lord, and find both Adams met in me;
Modern:
Look, Lord, and find both Adams joined in me;
Original:
As the first Adams sweat surrounds my face,
Modern:
As the first Adam’s sweat envelops my face,
Original:
May the last Adams blood my soul embrace.
Modern:
May the last Adam’s blood my soul embrace.
Original:
So, in his purple wrapp'd receive me Lord;
Modern:
So, wrapped in His purple, receive me, Lord;
Original:
By these his thorns, give me his other Crown;
Modern:
By these His thorns, grant me His other crown;
Original:
And as to others soules I preach'd thy word,
Modern:
And just as I preached Your word to other souls,
Original:
Be this my Text, my Sermon to mine own,
Modern:
Let this be my text, my sermon to myself,
Original:
Therefore that he may raise the Lord throws down.
Modern:
Thus, that He may raise me up, the Lord casts me down.
In John Donne’s “Hymn to God My God in My Sickness,” the poet grapples with the nearness of death and the profound mystery of the afterlife. Composed when Donne believed he was on the brink of his own passing, it displays his signature blend of clever metaphors, intricate language, and deep theological insight.
Donne imagines his doctors as mapmakers and himself as the map, suggesting that his physical body is the territory upon which he charts his final journey. In early lines, Donne tunes his spiritual instrument, preparing his mind and soul for entry into God’s presence. By referencing geography, he illustrates how both physical journeys and spiritual voyages carry us toward an ultimate destination beyond this life.
Central to the poem is Donne’s conviction that physical death is not final, but rather a transition to eternal life. Donne uses the West as a metaphorical endpoint, but in global maps, West and East meet—symbolically uniting death and resurrection. He merges biblical references, such as Adam’s sin and Christ’s sacrifice, reinforcing his belief in spiritual salvation through Christ.
The repeated mentions of straits, waters, and boundary lines also symbolize Donne’s experience of illness—each physical trial leads him closer to spiritual truth. He speaks of the sweat of the first Adam, signifying humanity’s sinful state, and the redeeming blood of the last Adam (Christ), highlighting redemption.
In the final lines, Donne prays to be wrapped in Christ’s purple robe and crowned with a crown of thorns, emphasizing his acceptance of suffering and surrender to divine will. This hymn becomes a testament of steadfast faith, where Donne trusts that his temporary suffering on Earth will grant him eternal life. The poem resonates as both a personal reflection on mortality and a universal statement on the hope found in spiritual faith.
Key points
1. The poem emphasizes faith in the face of mortality.
2. Donne uses vivid imagery and geographical metaphors to reflect on life’s final journey.
3. Biblical allusions underscore themes of sin, redemption, and salvation.
4. Accepting suffering can lead to a sense of spiritual peace.
5. Death is portrayed not as an end, but as a passage toward divine reunion.
