Temple by John Donne (1633)
The poem addresses Joseph and the child’s mother as they find the child astonishing learned doctors. Though He seems shallow and young, He deeply knows all that has been and will be written, even though the Word had only lately been unable to speak. His wisdom is not explained by human maturity or by Godhead serving as His soul; instead, He begins His great work early, as one with a long task begins business at sunrise. In the morning of His age, He performs miracles beyond human power.
By John Donne · First published 1633 · Genre: Metaphysical Poetry, Religious Poetry, Devotional Poetry · 176 words
First lines
With His kind mother, who partakes thy woe, / Joseph, turn back; see where your child doth sit, / Blowing, yea blowing out those sparks of wit, / Which Himself on the doctors did bestow. / The Word but lately could not speak, and lo! / It suddenly speaks wonders; whence comes it, / That all which was, and all which should be writ, / A shallow seeming child should deeply know? / His Godhead was not soul to His manhood, / Nor had time mellow'd Him to this ripeness; / But as for one which hath a long task, 'tis good, / With the sun to begin His business, / He in His age's morning thus began, / By miracles exceeding power of man.
What this Textopian page supports
Temple is listed on Textopian as a poem by John Donne, dated 1633 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: John Donne
- Date: 1633 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Metaphysical Poetry, Religious Poetry, Devotional Poetry, Christian Literature, Lyric Poetry
- Length: 176 words
- Structure: 1 section, 1 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Temple by John Donne
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Genres
- Metaphysical Poetry — The work employs Donne's characteristic intellectual conceits and theological paradoxes, exploring complex ideas about divine nature, knowledge, and incarnation through densely woven metaphysical language and argument.
- Religious Poetry — The poem's primary subject matter is explicitly Christian and sacred, centered on Christ's divine manifestation through miraculous knowledge, directly addressing theological mysteries of the incarnation.
- Devotional Poetry — The work functions as a devotional meditation intended to inspire spiritual contemplation and reverence, addressing the Virgin Mary and Joseph in a tone of prayer and religious reflection.
- Christian Literature — The work engages directly with Christian theology and biblical narrative, specifically the episode of Jesus teaching in the temple, affirming core Christian doctrines about Christ's divinity.
Tags
religious poetry · metaphysical · devotional · spiritual introspection · Christian faith · divine love · soul seeking · prayer · sacred · mysticism · faith and doubt · grace