Elegy Xviii: Love's Progress Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDDEEFGHHIIFGJJ KLHHMMNOPPQQRSTTUUVV WWXYZA2WWNOB2C2D2E2O F2G2G2H2I2WWJ2F2JJII IIWWIIIIWWIIWWHHIIK2 K2JJIIL2L2II

Who ever loves if he do not proposeA
The right true end of love he's one that goesA
To sea for nothing but to make him sickB
Love is a bear whelp born if we o'erlickB
Our love and force it new strange shapes to takeC
We err and of a lump a monster makeC
Were not a calf a monster that were grownD
Faced like a man though better than his ownD
Perfection is in unity preferE
One woman first and then one thing in herE
I when I value gold may think uponF
The ductileness the applicationG
The wholsomeness the ingenuityH
From rust from soil from fire ever freeH
But if I love it 'tis because 'tis madeI
By our new nature Use the soul of tradeI
All these in women we might think uponF
If women had them and yet love but oneG
Can men more injure women than to sayJ
They love them for that by which they're not theyJ
Makes virtue woman Must I cool my bloodK
Till I both be and find one wise and goodL
May barren angels love so But if weH
Make love to woman virtue is not sheH
As beauty's not nor wealth He that strays thusM
From her to hers is more adulterousM
Than if he took her maid Search every sphereN
And firmament our Cupid is not thereO
He's an infernal god and under groundP
With Pluto dwells where gold and fire aboundP
Men to such gods their sacrificing coalsQ
Did not in altars lay but pits and holesQ
Although we see celestial bodies moveR
Above the earth the earth we till and loveS
So we her airs contemplate words and heartT
And virtues but we love the centric partT
Nor is the soul more worthy or more fitU
For love than this as infinite is itU
But in attaining this desired placeV
How much they err that set out at the faceV
The hair a forest is of ambushesW
Of springs snares fetters and manaclesW
The brow becalms us when 'tis smooth and plainX
And when 'tis wrinkled shipwrecks us againY
Smooth 'tis a paradise where we would haveZ
Immortal stay and wrinkled 'tis our graveA2
The nose like to the first meridian runsW
Not 'twixt an East and West but 'twixt two sunsW
It leaves a cheek a rosy hemisphereN
On either side and then directs us whereO
Upon the Islands Fortunate we fallB2
Not faint Canaries but AmbrosialC2
Her swelling lips to which when we are comeD2
We anchor there and think ourselves at homeE2
For they seem all there Sirens' songs and thereO
Wise Delphic oracles do fill the earF2
There in a creek where chosen pearls do swellG2
The remora her cleaving tongue doth dwellG2
These and the glorious promontory her chinH2
O'erpassed and the straight Hellespont betweenI2
The Sestos and Abydos of her breastsW
Not of two lovers but two loves the nestsW
Succeeds a boundless sea but yet thine eyeJ2
Some island moles may scattered there descryF2
And sailing towards her India in that wayJ
Shall at her fair Atlantic navel stayJ
Though thence the current be thy pilot madeI
Yet ere thou be where thou wouldst be embayedI
Thou shalt upon another forest setI
Where many shipwreck and no further getI
When thou art there consider what this chaseW
Misspent by thy beginning at the faceW
Rather set out below practise my artI
Some symetry the foot hath with that partI
Which thou dost seek and is thy map for thatI
Lovely enough to stop but not stay atI
Least subject to disguise and change it isW
Men say the devil never can change hisW
It is the emblem that hath figuredI
Firmness 'tis the first part that comes to bedI
Civility we see refined the kissW
Which at the face began transplanted isW
Since to the hand since to the imperial kneeH
Now at the papal foot delights to beH
If kings think that the nearer way and doI
Rise from the foot lovers may do so tooI
For as free spheres move faster far than canK2
Birds whom the air resists so may that manK2
Which goes this empty and ethereal wayJ
Than if at beauty's elements he stayJ
Rich nature hath in women wisely madeI
Two purses and their mouths aversely laidI
They then which to the lower tribute oweL2
That way which that exchequer looks must goL2
He which doth not his error is as greatI
As who by clyster gave the stomach meatI

John Donne



Rate:
(1)



Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme

Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation


Write your comment about Elegy Xviii: Love's Progress poem by John Donne


 

Recent Interactions*

This poem was read 7 times,

This poem was added to the favorite list by 0 members,

This poem was voted by 0 members.

(* Interactions only in the last 7 days)

New Poems

Popular Poets