musing
a period of reflection or thought
musing
a period of reflection or thought
trod
walked down in a specific way
devout
having or showing deep religious feeling or commitment
dismal
depressing, gloomy
seldom
rarely, infrequently
bawling
crying noisily
betel
An Asian evergreen climbing plant that when chewed causes the saliva to go red and the teeth to go black
maidens
unmarried young women
caterwauling
to make a shrill howl, like a cat
banks of mud
a quagmire, a band of mud partially submerged
weary
tired, exhausted
parson
A beneficed member of the clergy ; a clergyman (especially in a protestant church)
leaden
dull, heavy
musing
a period of reflection or thought
trod
walked down in a specified way
bawling
crying noisily
devout
having or showing deep religious feeling or commitment
seldom
rarely, infrequently
betel
an Asian evergreen climbing plant that when chewed, causes the saliva to go red and the teeth to go black
maidens
unmarried young women
dismal
depressing, gloomy
caterwauling
to make a shrill howl, like a cat
banks of mud
a quagmire, a band of mud partially submerged
weary
tired, exhausted
parson
A beneficed member of the clergy ; a clergyman (especially in a protestant church)
leaden
dull, heavy
John Donne
1572-1631 Considered the preeminent representative of metaphysical poems.
Mark but this flea, and mark in this, How little that which thou deniest me is; It sucked me first, and now sucks thee, And in this flea our two bloods mingled be; Thou know’st that this cannot be said A sin, nor shame, nor loss of maidenhead, Yet this enjoys before it woo, And pampered swells with one blood made of two, And this, alas, is more than we would do. – Oh stay, three lives in one flea spare, Where we almost, nay more than married are. This flea is you and I, and this Our marriage bed, and marriage temple is; Though parents grudge, and you, w’are met, And cloistered in these living walls of jet. Though use make you apt to kill me, Let not to that, self-murder added be, And sacrilege, three sins in killing three
Rhymes are AABBCCDDD
Cruel and sudden, hast thou since Purpled thy nail, in blood of innocence? Wherein could this flea guilty be, Except in that drop which it sucked from thee? Yet thou triumph’st, and say’st that thou Find’st not thy self, nor me the weaker now; ’Tis true; then learn how false, fears be: Just so much honor, when thou yield’st to me, Will waste, as this flea’s death took life from thee.
Rhymes are AABBCCBBB
thee
you
yield
produce or provide (???) when she will present herself in front of him (in a sexual sense)
thou
you
’Tis
this is
thy self,
yourself
say’st that thou
you say that you
thou triumph’st
you win, you celebrate
thee
you
Wherein
in which
thy
the
hast thou
have you
apt
find suitable, find desirable
jet
black
cloistered
imprisoned but safe : sheltered but kept away from the outside world
w’are
we have
grudge
feeling of ill or resentment
nay
not
spare
a spare flea (?) another being in the same room as the two lovers
alas
expresses grief, pit, concern
pampered
spoiled, given great care and attention
maidenhead
virginity
know’st
(archaic) know
"'st" is the old english version
Thou
you
mingled
mixed
thee
you (as an object)
deniest
deny
thou
you
swells
enlarges
woo
to seek the support of
bed time
bed time not as in sleeping time but as in sex time
busy fools
other men
foe
opponent
foe
ennemy
oft-times
often
stopped there
stopped from seeing the breasts, 'far fairer world'
chime
sound, melody
fairer
better
nigh
here : so close
busk
here : noise of pleasure, probably moan
Unlace
Unlacing the piece of clothing ; corset ?
That th’
(that you wear) so that the eyes...
Unpin
remove
spangled
decorated with a small thin piece of glittering material, typically sewn as one of many on clothing for decoration; a sequin
encompassing
surround and have or hold within
Zone
zone as in area, but why the Cap letter ?
girdle
an article of dress encircling the body usually at the waist
Is tir’d with standing though he never fight.
Donne is waiting standing for the woman to get undressed (fight refers to the sexual act)
.
End of our part
NGL 222
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