Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE APPARITION, by JOHN DONNE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE APPARITION, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: When by thy scorn, o murderess I am dead
Last Line: Then by my threatnings rest still innocent.
Subject(s): Ghosts; Love; Revenge; Supernatural


When by thy scorne, O murdresse I am dead,
And that thou thinkst thee free
From all solicitation from mee,
Then shall my ghost come to thy bed,
And thee, fain'd vestall, in worse armes shall see;
Then thy sicke taper will begin to winke,
And he, whose thou art then, being tyr'd before,
Will, if thou stirre, or pinch to wake him, thinke
Thou call'st for more,
And in false sleepe will from thee shrinke,
And then poore Aspen wretch, neglected thou
Bath'd in a cold quicksilver sweat wilt lye
A veryer ghost then I;
What I will say, I will not tell thee now,
Lest that preserve thee'; and since my love is spent,
I'had rather thou shouldst painfully repent,
Then by my threatnings rest still innocent.





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