Poet
John Donne
English poet · 1572–1631
Death Be Not ProudNo Man Is an Island
John Donne led a double life across one lifetime: the young rake who wrote the wittiest, most physical love poems of his era, and the older Dean of St Paul's whose Holy Sonnets stare down death itself.
"Death, be not proud" is the most defiant funeral poem in English; "No man is an island" (from his Meditations) gave the language one of its permanent phrases.
28 poems by John Donne
Full text, free to read — all in the public domain.
- A Hymn To God The FatherWilt thou forgive that sin where I begun,…18 lines
- Air And AngelsTwice or thrice had I loved thee,…28 lines
- Celestial MusicI have a friend who still believes in heaven.…39 lines
- Death, Be Not Proud (Holy Sonnet 10)Death, be not proud, though some have callèd thee…14 lines
- Elegy IX: The AutumnalNo spring nor summer Beauty hath such grace…50 lines
- Holy Sonnet I: Tho Has Made MeTho has made me, and shall thy work decay?…14 lines
- Holy Sonnet II: As Due By Many Titles I ResignAs due by many titles I resign…14 lines
- Holy Sonnet III: O Might Those Sighs And Tears Return AgainO might those sighs and tears return again…14 lines
- Holy Sonnet IV: Oh My Black Soul! Now Art Thou SummonedOh my black soul! now art thou summoned…14 lines
- Holy Sonnet IX: If Poisonous Minerals, And If That TreeIf poisonous minerals, and if that tree…14 lines
- Holy Sonnet V: I Am A Little World Made CunninglyI am a little world made cunningly…14 lines
- Holy Sonnet VI: This Is My Play's Last Scene, Here Heavens AppointThis is my play's last scene, here heavens appoint…14 lines
- Holy Sonnet VII: At The Round Earth's Imagined Corners BlowAt the round earth's imagined corners blow…14 lines
- Holy Sonnet VIII: If Faithful Souls Be Alike GlorifiedIf faithful souls be alike glorified…14 lines
- Holy Sonnet XI: Spit In My Face You Jews, And Pierce My SideSpit in my face you Jews, and pierce my side,…14 lines
- Holy Sonnet XII: Why Are We By All Creatures Waited On?Why are we by all creatures waited on?…14 lines
- Holy Sonnet XIII: What If This Present Were The World's Last Night?What if this present were the world's last night?…14 lines
- Holy Sonnet XIX: Oh, To Vex Me, Contraries Meet In OneOh, to vex me, contraries meet in one:…14 lines
- Holy Sonnet XV: Wilt Thou Love God, As He Thee? Then DigestWilt thou love God, as he thee? Then digest,…14 lines
- Holy Sonnet XVI: Father, Part Of His Double InterestFather, part of his double interest…14 lines
- Holy Sonnet XVII: Since She Whom I LovedSince she whom I loved hath paid her last debt…14 lines
- Holy Sonnet XVIII: Show me, dear Christ, thy Spouse, so bright and clearShow me, dear Christ, thy Spouse, so bright and clear.…14 lines
- Song: Go and Catch a Falling StarGo and catch a falling star,…27 lines
- The DreamDear love, for nothing less than thee…30 lines
- The FuneralWhoever comes to shroud me, do not harm…24 lines
- The PrimroseUpon this Primrose hill,…30 lines
- The ProhibitionTake heed of loving me;…24 lines
- Woman's ConstancyNow thou hast loved me one whole day,…17 lines