The Good-Morrow - A poem by John Donne

John Donne - The Good-Morrow

I wonder, by my troth, what thou and I
Did, till we loved?  were we not weaned till then,
But sucked on country pleasures, childishly?
Or snorted we in the seven sleepers' den?
'Twas so; but this, all pleasures fancies be.
If ever any beauty I did see,
Which I desired, and got, 'twas but a dream of thee.

And now good morrow to our waking souls,
Which watch not one another out of fear;
For love all love of other sights controls,
And makes one little room an everywhere.
Let sea discovers to new worlds have gone,
Let maps to others, worlds on worlds have shown:
Let us possess one world; each hath one, and is one.
My face in thine eye, thine in mine appears,
And true plain hearts do in the faces rest;
Where can we find two better hemishperes,
Without sharp North, without declining West?
Whatever dies was not mixed equally;
If our two loves be one, or thou and I
Love so alike that none do slacken, none can die.

Added: on May 25th, 2006 at 10:45 AM | Viewed: 7407 times | Comments (10)

The Good-Morrow - Comments and Information
Poet: John Donne Poem: The Good-Morrow Comment 10 of 10, added on October 18th, 2008 at 4:26 AM. Note to anyone studying Donne at an upper High School or tertiary level: - the term metaphysical should be carefully attributed to Donne as there is not sufficient evidence to suggest that he identified himself to this category. (similarities between Donne's poetry and Marvell's among others, does not readily mean that he is a metaphysical poet. This term was given to him after his death so it should be used carefully) The three stanza's of the Good Morrow can be simplified to being about the past (stanza one), the present (stanza two) and the future (stanza three). I would agree that "country" is a sexual pun, the use of the word "dies" can also be seen to be this too. It was a common belief at the time that reaching sexual climax would significantly shorten one's life. Hope this is helpful for those who legitimately are interested in Donne Literature Student EA from Australia Comment 9 of 10, added on February 24th, 2007 at 10:06 PM. I don't really agree with some of your ideas about Twicknam Garden. I think the persona has come to the garden to seek solace, calm (represented by Spring) and be healed by the sights and sounds and beauty of the garden. This, however, cannot be, as he betrayed himself by thinking of his love, whom he can never be with. Immediately, everything that once was good is bad, sweet is bitter, etc. He is referring to this love as a spider, poisonous, and spreads its web into every aspect. He is caught in the web of love, and cannot get out. He also compares love to a serpent. He has brought "the Serpent", the thought of his love, into what "may be thoroughly thought True Paradise" and thus destroyed it in his mind. He is saying that his love is decieving, lying, in that she let him fall in love with her, even though she would never have him. In the seven sins, Envy is also represented by a serpent. Can anybody tell me how this might fit into the poem? Sharon Comment 8 of 10, added on May 25th, 2006 at 10:45 AM. I'm sorry to correct you but it's "sucked on country pleasures", I completely agree with the fact that this is an allusion to oral sex, take note of sound of the first syllable of "country" Donne tends to enjoy these plays on words and double entendres. Eleanor from United Kingdom More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, The Good-Morrow, has received 10 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own. Of course you can also always discuss poems by John Donne with others on the Poetry Connection poetry forum!

Poem Info
The Good-Morrow Last read: 2010-02-09 13:55:13 Viewed 7407 times. Added on May 25th, 2006 at 10:45 AM.

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