Crucifying by John Donne (1633)
The poem reflects on a figure whose miracles awaken faith in some people but envy in others, since weak spirits admire what ambitious people hate. Although many are drawn to Him, the greater number turn against the Immaculate one and presume to prescribe a fate for Him, though Fate itself is His creature. Condemned, He carries His own cross in pain; soon the cross will bear Him, and He will bear still greater suffering and die. The speaker addresses the lifted-up sufferer, asking to be drawn to Him and for one drop of His blood, bestowed at death, to moisten the speaker’s dry soul.
By John Donne · First published 1633 · Genre: Religious Poetry, Metaphysical Poetry, Lyric Poetry · 177 words
First lines
By miracles exceeding power of man, / He faith in some, envy in some begat, / For, what weak spirits admire, ambitious hate; / In both affections many to Him ran. / But the worst are most, they will and can, / Alas! and do, unto th' Immaculate, / Whose creature Fate is, now prescribe a fate, / Measuring self-life's infinity to span, / Nay to an inch. Lo! where condemned He / Bears His own cross, with pain, yet by and by / When it bears him, He must bear more and die. / Now Thou art lifted up, draw me to Thee, / And at Thy death giving such liberal dole, / Moist with one drop of Thy blood my dry soul.
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Crucifying is listed on Textopian as a poem by John Donne, dated 1633 CE.
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- Work type: Poem
- Author: John Donne
- Date: 1633 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Religious Poetry, Metaphysical Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Devotional Poetry, Contemplative Poetry
- Length: 177 words
- Structure: 1 section, 1 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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Genres
- Religious Poetry — The entire poem is devoted to meditation on Christ's crucifixion, suffering, and redemption—core Christian theology.
- Metaphysical Poetry — Exhibits Donne's characteristic complex intellectual conceits exploring paradoxes of divine power through human weakness and suffering.
- Lyric Poetry — A personal, emotionally direct expression of spiritual longing with intimate address to Christ ('Now Thou art lifted up, draw me to Thee').
- Devotional Poetry — Structured as prayer and meditation designed to deepen spiritual devotion and connection to Christ's redemptive sacrifice.
Tags
metaphysical-poetry · religious-themes · suffering · spirituality · death · Christian-theology · passionate-language · paradox · introspection · divine-love · mortality · soul-searching