If Poisonous Minerals, and if that Tree
The speaker questions why he should be damned when poisonous minerals, the death-bearing tree, lecherous goats, and envious serpents cannot be condemned. He wonders why human reason and intention make his sins more serious, and why God threatens wrath when mercy is both easy and glorious for God to give. He then rebukes his own audacity in disputing with God. Calling on God’s worthy blood and offering his tears, he asks for a heavenly Lethean flood to drown the black memory of his sins. While others may claim that God’s remembrance of sins is a debt owed to justice, the speaker regards it as mercy if God chooses to forget them.
By John Donne · First published 1633 · Genre: Metaphysical Poetry, Religious Poetry, Sonnet · 180 words
First lines
If poisonous minerals, and if that tree, / Whose fruit threw death on (else immortal) us, / If lecherous goats, if serpents envious / Cannot be damn'd, alas! why should I be? / Why should intent or reason, born in me, / Make sins, else equal, in me more heinous? / And, mercy being easy, and glorious / To God, in His stern wrath why threatens He? / But who am I, that dare dispute with Thee? / O God, O! of Thine only worthy blood, / And my tears, make a heavenly Lethean flood, / And drown in it my sin's black memory. / That Thou remember them, some claim as debt; / I think it mercy if Thou wilt forget.
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If Poisonous Minerals, and if that Tree 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: Metaphysical Poetry, Religious Poetry, Sonnet, Devotional Poetry, Theological Poetry
- Length: 180 words
- Structure: 1 section, 1 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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Genres
- Metaphysical Poetry — Donne is a central metaphysical poet; the work employs characteristic metaphysical conceits (minerals, trees, animals as philosophical arguments), paradoxes, and intellectual argumentation combining abstract reasoning with emotional intensity about divine matters.
- Religious Poetry — The poem centers entirely on the relationship between humanity and God, exploring themes of sin, divine mercy, judgment, and redemption; theological content is fundamental to the work.
- Sonnet — Structured as a 14-line poem with approximate Petrarchan rhyme scheme (ABBAABBA for octave with sestet variation); follows traditional sonnet form conventions and constraints.
- Devotional Poetry — Functions as direct address and prayer to God; structured as supplication seeking divine mercy and forgiveness; characteristic of the devotional verse tradition.
Tags
metaphysical poetry · 17th century literature · conceit · intellectual · religious imagery · romantic · philosophical · nature · danger · mortality · paradox · baroque