In “Holy Sonnet 17,” John Donne grieves the loss of a beloved figure—likely his wife—but also discovers a deepened commitment to God in the process. At first, the speaker⋯ Read the full article

John Donne’s “Holy Sonnet 7,” commonly identified by its opening line “At the round earth’s imagin’d corners,” envisions the final resurrection and the reunion of souls w⋯ Read the full article

In John Donne’s “Holy Sonnet 5,” the speaker envisions himself as a microcosm—a “little world” composed of earthly elements and a heavenly soul. Donne laments that this w⋯ Read the full article

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 ⋯ Read the full article

John Donne’s “Elegy XIX,” often modernly referred to as “To His Mistress Going to Bed,” is one of the most sensual and unabashed poems in the English Renaissance canon. W⋯ Read the full article

In “Song (Go and catch a falling star),” John Donne conjures a list of fanciful or impossible endeavors—catching a falling star, impregnating a mandrake root—and then equ⋯ Read the full article

John Donne’s “The Sun Rising” playfully personifies the sun as an intruder upon a pair of blissful lovers. In the poem’s opening lines, the speaker chastises the sun for ⋯ Read the full article

John Donne’s “The Good-Morrow,” published in 1633 but likely written earlier, is among his most famous Metaphysical poems. It explores a moment of awakening—literal and m⋯ Read the full article

In “Holy Sonnet 14,” John Donne crafts a passionate petition to the “three-person’d God,” a clear reference to the Holy Trinity in Christian doctrine. The poem sees the s⋯ Read the full article

In “Holy Sonnet 10,” commonly known as “Death be not proud,” John Donne confronts Death as though it were a boastful enemy that needs to be humbled. Structurally, this po⋯ Read the full article

John Donne’s “The Flea” is a celebrated example of Metaphysical poetry, known for its witty argument and striking conceit. In this poem, the speaker addresses a lover who⋯ Read the full article

John Donne’s “The Canonization” is a witty, passionate defense of love against external criticism and societal norms. Written in the late 16th or early 17th century, it e⋯ Read the full article

John Donne’s “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning” offers a tender perspective on parting that urges calm restraint rather than outward lamentation. Written around the ear⋯ Read the full article

In “Sonnet 116,” William Shakespeare presents an eloquent definition of unwavering love, emphasizing its constancy and resilience. The poem rejects any notion of impedime⋯ Read the full article

In “Sonnet 29,” Shakespeare explores themes of isolation, envy, and self-doubt, only to find solace and redemption in the memory of a beloved. The speaker begins by lamen⋯ Read the full article