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“A Lecture upon the Shadow” by John Donne
Stand still, and I will read to thee
A lecture, love, in love’s philosophy.
These three hours that we have spent,
Walking here, two shadows went
Along with us, which we ourselves produc’d.
But, now the sun is just above our head,
We do those shadows tread,
And to brave clearness all things are reduc’d.
So whilst our infant loves did grow,
Disguises did, and shadows, flow
From us, and our cares; but now ’tis not so.
That love has not attain’d the high’st degree,
Which is still diligent lest others see.
Except our loves at this noon stay,
We shall new shadows make the other way.
As the first were made to blind
Others, these which come behind
Will work upon ourselves, and blind our eyes.
If our loves faint, and westwardly decline,
To me thou, falsely, thine,
And I to thee mine actions shall disguise.
The morning shadows wear away,
But these grow longer all the day;
But oh, love’s day is short, if love decay.
Love is a growing, or full constant light,
And his first minute, after noon, is night.
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AAAHHHH. Now wasn’t that a nice poem?
Beautiful old poem. It’s been too long since I’ve read John Donne.
Loved it.
Kimberly,
I am guessing there are some other fine poems that are much, much, much older than this one
Llama–of course (this one’s just older than last week’s!)
Maybe we should have Old English next week ….
I love Donne’s philosophic slyness, especially with the last couplet. It reminds me of Milton’s sonnet,”I dreamed I saw my late belov’d…” with an equally dazzling play on light and dark at its close.
The other nice thing is the link between human love and divine, the human as a type of the divine. And yet there is also the sly romancing here, with Donne implicitly arguing to seize the day, to act now.
Anyway — this is one fine, fine, fine, poem.
Speaking of good poetry how about Lord Alfred Tennyson’s “Charge of the Light Brigade”.
Jane–
Tennyson is not particularly a favourite of mine; I find “Charge” inspirational and stirring but a little repetative.
But I’ve probably been too much influenced by my Modern Lit prof in college: he couldn’t stand Tennyson.
For older poetry, I’ve enjoyed Donne and Sidney; Spenser’s sonnets are also good.
Tennyson is a better poet than “Charge…” would indicate.
As to the older poets, Jonson has always been a favorite. Marvell has a few nice poems. I’ve also been dabbling in Pope — I don’t know if I’d call him a great poet, but he sure can turn a line. Half the fun is following the thought and then seeing how he’ll put it to rhyme. Sometimes I roll my eyes, sometimes I stand amazed. And sometimes, as even Pope himself once said, “sometimes Homer sleeps” and he’s just boring.
I’ve usually stopped even checking in on the Friday poems, much as I love poetry, because there has been so much blank verse. If this one had said “Friday poem (Donne),” I’d have checked in yesterday. He’s a favorite. When I was in college, the English teacher who turned me on to Donne became a friend. I was trying to get a book of Donne’s complete poetry, and couldn’t special order it from any store since I didn’t yet have a credit card–so I made my professor order a copy for my birthday.
I love his use of imagery that one can see–walled fortresses in other poems, light and lengthening shadows in this one.
I still check it every week and almost always find something to enjoy - if not on the poem then the little snappy messages from HSK to Llama and back.
Seriously, although I don’t often comment, I always read this thread and appreciate it!