The Triple Fool
John Donne 1572 (London) – 1631 (London)
I am two fools, I know—
For loving, and for saying so
In whining poetry;
But where's that wiseman that would not be I,
If she would not deny?
Then, as th' earths inward narrow crooked lanes
Do purge sea waters fretful salt away,
I thought, if I could draw my pains
Through rhymes vexation, I should them allay.
Grief brought to numbers cannot be so fierce,
For he tames it that fetters it in verse.
But when I have done so,
Some man, his art and voice to show,
Doth set and sing my pain,
And, by delighting many, frees again
Grief, which verse did restrain.
To Love and Grief tribute of verse belongs,
But not of such as pleases when 'tis read;
Both are increased by such songs,
For both their triumphs so are published;
And I, which was two fooles, do so grow three;
Who are a little wise, the best fools be.
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Submitted on May 13, 2011
Modified on March 05, 2023
- 47 sec read
- 123 Views
Quick analysis:
Scheme | AABCCDEDEXX AAFXFGXGXBB |
---|---|
Closest metre | Iambic tetrameter |
Characters | 799 |
Words | 158 |
Stanzas | 2 |
Stanza Lengths | 11, 11 |
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"The Triple Fool" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 8 Jun 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/22609/the-triple-fool>.
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