The Paradox



No Lover saith, I love, nor any other
Can judge a perfect Lover;
Hee thinkes that else none can, nor will agree
That any loves but hee;
I cannot say I'lov'd. for who can say
Hee was kill'd yesterday?
Lover withh excesse of heat, more yong than old,
Death kills with too much cold;
Wee dye but once, and who lov'd last did die,
Hee that saith twice, doth lye:
For though hee seeme to move, and stirre a while,
It doth the sense beguile.
Such life is like the light which bideth yet
When the lights life is set,
Or like the heat, which fire in solid matter
Leave behinde, two houres after.
Once I lov's and dy'd; and am now become
Mine Epitaph and Tombe.
Here dead men speake their last, and so do I;
Love-slaine, loe, here I lye.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 29, 2023

45 sec read
275

Quick analysis:

Scheme AABBCBDDEEFFGGAAHHEE
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 717
Words 144
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 20

John Donne

 · 1572 · London

John Donne was an English poet, satirist, lawyer and a cleric in the Church of England. more…

All John Donne poems | John Donne Books

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    Who wrote the epic poem "Os Lusíadas" in 1572?
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