John Donne was an inventive poet who used many forms.This blog will contain examples and info on some of these forms Comments on this blog maybe made to strandbg@aol.com
THE UNDERTAKING quatrain 7676 abab
I have done one braver thing
Than all the worthies did
Yet a braver thenc doth spring
Which is,to keepe that hid
TO MR ROWLAND WOODWARD triplet 2 10 10 aaa
5th verse
If our soules hav stan'd their first white,yet wee
May clothe them with faith,and honestie,
Which God imputes,as natures puritie
THE EXTASIE qutrain 8888 abab
5th verse
And whilst our soules negotiate there
Wee like sepuchra statues lay;
Allday,the same our postures were,
And wee said nothing,all day
THE WILL 9 lines 1010101010881014
aabbccddd
4th verse
I give my reputation to those
Which were my friends;Mine industrie to foes;
To Schoolmen I bequeath my doubtfulnesse;
My sicknesse to Physcitians or excesse;
To Nature all that I in Ryme have writ;
And to my own company,my wit
Thous Love,by making me adore
Her,who begot this love in mee before,
Taughst me to make,as though I gave ,when I did but restore
SONG 9lines 777788228 ababccddd
verse 2
If thou beest borne to strange sights
Things invisible to see,Ride ten thousand daise and nights,
'Til age snow whyte haires on thee
Thou,when thou returns't,wilt tell mee
All strange wonders that befell thee,
And sweare
No where
Lives a woman true,and faire
THE SUN RISING 10 lines8410108810101010
abbacdcdee
verse 1
Busie old foole,unruly sunne
Why dost thou thus
Through windowes and through curtains call on us?
Must to thy motions lvers seasons run?
Saucy pedantique wretch,goe chide
Late school boyes,and soure prentices
Goe tell Court-huntsmen,that the king will ride
Call country ants to harvest offices;
Love,all alike,no season knowes,nor clyme
Nor houres,dayes,months which the rags of time
SONG (2) octet 76764666 ababcdde
verse 1
Sweetest Love,I do not goe
For weariness of thee,
Nor in hope the world can show
A fitter love for mee;
But since that I
Must dye at last,'tis best,
To use myself in jest
Thus by fain'd death to due.
A HYMNE TO GOD THE FATHER sixain
1010101084 abaaab
First verse
Since I am coming to that Holy roome,
Where,with thy Quire of Saints for evermore
I shall be made thy Musique,As I come
I tune the Instrument her at the dore,
And what I must doe then,thinke now before
LOVE'S DEITIE 7 Lines 101010101010108
ababccc
2nd verse
Sure they which made him god,meant not as much;
Nor he,in his young godhead practis'd it
But when an even flame two hearts did touch,
His office was indulgently to fit
Actives to passives;correspondencie
Only his subject was.It cannot bee
Love,'til I love her,that loves mee
THE CANNONIZATION 9 lines 1081010881086
abbacacaa
4th verse
Wee can dye by it,if not live by love,
And if unfit for tomces or hearse
Our legend bee,it will be fot for verse;
And if no peece of Chronicle wee prove,
We'll build in sonnets pretty roomes;
As well a well wrought urne becomes
The greatest ashes,as half-acre tombes,
And by these hymnes,all shall approve
Us canoniz'd for Love
