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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE RELIC, by JOHN DONNE Recitation Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: When my grave is broke up again Last Line: Should I tell what a miracle she was. Variant Title(s): The Relique Subject(s): Graves; Love; Saints; Tombs; Tombstones | |||
When my grave is broke up again Some second guest to entertain, (For graves have learned that woman-head To be more than one a bed) And he that digs it, spies A bracelet of bright hair about the bone, Will he not let us alone, And think that there a loving couple lies, Who thought that this device might be some way To make their souls, at the last busy day, Meet at this grave, and make a little stay? If this fall in a time, or land, Where mis-devotion doth command. Then, he that digs us up, will bring Us, to the Bishop, and the King, To make us relics; then Thou shalt be a Mary Magdalen, and I A something else thereby; All women shall adore us, and some men; And since at such time, miracles are sought, I would have that age by this paper taught What miracles we harmless lovers wrought. First, we loved well and faithfully, Yet knew not what we loved, nor why, Difference of sex no more we knew, Than our guardian angels do; Coming and going, we Perchance might kiss, but not between those meals, Our hands ne'er touched the seals, Which nature, injured by late law, sets free: These miracles we did; but now alas, All measure, and all language, I should pass, Should I tell what a miracle she was. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE SURVIVOR AMONG GRAVES by RANDALL JARRELL SUBJECTED EARTH by ROBINSON JEFFERS THE GRAVE OF MRS. HEMANS by CECIL FRANCES ALEXANDER THOSE GRAVES IN ROME by LARRY LEVIS NOT TO BE DWELLED ON by HEATHER MCHUGH ONE LAST DRAW OF THE PIPE by PAUL MULDOON ETRUSCAN TOMB by JOHN FREDERICK NIMS ENDING WITH A LINE FROM LEAR by MARVIN BELL A HYMN TO CHRIST, AT THE AUTHOR'S LAST GOING INTO GERMANY by JOHN DONNE |
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