Day 121 – May Day

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Go here to understand the reason I always recall this poem on May Day.

The Good-Morrow

I wonder by my troth, what thou, and I
Did, till we lov’d? Were we not wean’d till then?
But suck’d on countrey pleasures, childishly?
Or snorted we in the seaven sleepers den?
T’was so; But this, all pleasures fancies bee.
If ever any beauty I did see,
Which I desir’d, and got, ’twas but a dreame of thee.
 
And now good morrow to our waking soules,
Which watch not one another out of feare;
For love, all love of other sights controules,
And makes one little roome, an every where.
Let sea-discoverers to new worlds have gone,
Let Maps to other, worlds on worlds have showne,
Let us possesse one world; each hath one, and is one.
 
My face in thine eye, thine in mine appeares,
And true plaine hearts doe in the faces rest,
Where can we finde two better hemispheares
Without sharpe North, without declining West?
What ever dyes, was not mixed equally;
If our two loves be one, or, thou and I
Love so alike, that none doe slacken, none can die.
~John Donne

5 Comments Add yours

  1. Beautiful poem and picture.

  2. Vixen says:

    *beautiful* picture!

  3. Patrick says:

    Remember also, in Donne’s day the term “countrey” was commonly used as a sly pun on “cunt’ry”. Sucking on country pleasures, indeed.

    See also Hamlet’s “May I lie my head on your lap… Did you think I meant country matters?”

  4. Emmy says:

    ASM & Vixen – Thanks! That dogwood tree is gorgeous right now!

    Patrick – Not sure if you clicked my link about why I post this poem, but that is EXACTLY why I recall it each May Day. After that class, we all read that era of poem or play in a whole new way. 🙂

  5. Genevieve says:

    Absolutely beautiful photo! Great poem, and thanks for the story to go with it. Sounds like he was quite an interesting man.

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