Selected Poems - John Donne

John Donne is one of the most fantastically interesting metaphysical poets. Just to give you a brief description of what metaphysical poetry is about: metaphysical poets were a group of poets in the 17th century whose name was given to them after they had been writing by Samuel Johnson. It's hard to describe exactly what a metaphysical poem is just because, well there isn't really a strict pattern they follow as most of them were not famous until after death and well didn't really know of each other. Anyway, the key thing that more or less all of the metaphysical poems contain is an extended ... more

John Donne was born in 1572,into Shakespearan England,and yet he is so different to Shakespeare in his works.He is usually described as a metaphysical poet,although I do not think that a particularly helpful description.Donne is physical,emotional,sexual.I was introduced to Donne by my A-Level English Literature teacher.Many of his poems are short and easily understood- particularly the erotic "The Flea" and "The Sunne Rising".Others,especially "The Anniversaries" need to be ploughed through.Donne's poetry is vivid and haunting,and intense.Much of Donne's work is love poetry,which is wonderful ... more