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

Introduction to "Holy Sonnet 10 (Death be not proud)""Holy Sonnet 10 (Death be not proud)" is one of the most celebrated poems by John Donne, a leading figure of the meta⋯ Read the full article

Introduction to "The Flea""The Flea" by John Donne is a metaphysical poem that uses the image of a flea to explore themes of love, sex, and marriage. The speaker employs ⋯ Read the full article

Introduction to "The Canonization""The Canonization" is a metaphysical poem by John Donne, renowned for its intricate use of conceits, paradoxes, and philosophical depth.⋯ Read the full article

Overview of "A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning""A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning" is a metaphysical poem by John Donne, written in the early 17th century. It is consid⋯ Read the full article

Introduction to "Sonnet 116" by William Shakespeare"Sonnet 116," often regarded as one of William Shakespeare's most famous sonnets, explores the theme of true love. The ⋯ Read the full article

Introduction to "Sonnet 29" by William Shakespeare"Sonnet 29" is one of the most celebrated sonnets written by William Shakespeare, and it explores themes of despair, sel⋯ Read the full article

Introduction to "Sonnet 18""Sonnet 18," also known by its opening line, "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?", is one of the most famous sonnets written by William Sh⋯ Read the full article

This poem, often referred to as “Jiangnan Journey,” reflects the profound sense of longing and sorrow characteristic of much of Lu You’s work. Each line conveys the emoti⋯ Read the full article

In “A Farmer’s Lament,” poet Lu You provides a poignant vignette of agrarian hardships in ancient China. Through spare yet evocative language, he summons images of an unc⋯ Read the full article

This selected poem from Lu You’s Jian Nan Poetry Drafts reveals a mind torn between patriotic zeal and the harsh realities of time. The speaker, reflecting from an older ⋯ Read the full article

This **reconstructed** poem imagines Lu You composing a piece of self-reflection (“自咏”). While not definitively part of his corpus, it captures key elements that common⋯ Read the full article

In this **reconstructed** “A Long Song (Dwelling Amid Twilight’s Smoky Hues),” we envision Lu You in the twilight of his years, residing in a peaceful spot where “smoky h⋯ Read the full article