An English metaphysical poet whose work is characterized by subtle imagery and figurative language. As dean of St.Paul's Cathedral in London, he was noted for his sermons. His verse was not published in collected form until after his death, and was long out of favor, but he is now recognized as one of the greatest English poets. His poetry includes the sonnets "Batter my heart, three person'd God" and "Death be not proud," elegies , and satires.
Death be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadfull, for, thou art not soe,
For, those, whom thou think'st, thou dost overthrow,
Die not, poor death, nor yet canst thou kill mee.
For rest and sleepe, which but thy pictures bee,
Much pleasure, then from thee, much more must flow,
And soonest our best men with thee doe goe,
Rest of their bones, and soules deliverie.
Thou art slave to Fate, Chance, kings, and desperate men,
And dost with poyson, warre, and sicknesse dwell,
And poppie, or charmes can make us sleepe as well,
And better then thy stroake; why swell'st thou then?
One short sleepe past, wee wake eternally,
And death shall be no more; death, thou shalt die.
From Donne's Devotions upon Emergent' Occassions, we have the following famous and inspiring lines:
No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friends or of thine own were; any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.