To Mr. Christopher Brooke: Thy Friend, whom Thy
A friend addresses the poem to Christopher Brooke, declaring himself bound to Brooke by Brooke's own merits. Forced by an occasion he calls unexcusable, he has left behind both Brooke and the saint of his affection, and he laments the absence of both. He asks that the love he bears the two of them suffer no blot or injury from this separation, affirming that the love which ties their two hearts together is strong, and equally strong is the love he pursues with amorous pain toward the saint. He notes that in leaving, he abandons not only Brooke but also heaven's liberal light and the thrice fair sun, journeying instead to a place where starved winter always dwells. Yet the hot fires of his love, which martyr his sad mind, send forth scalding sighs capable of melting all ice except the ice that walls her heart.
By John Donne · First published 1633 · Genre: Metaphysical Poetry, Love Poetry, Lyric Poetry · 168 words
First lines
Thy friend, whom thy deserts to thee enchain, / Urged by this unexcusable occasion, / Thee and the saint of his affection / Leaving behind, doth of both wants complain. / And let the love I bear to both sustain / No blot nor maim by this division; / Strong is this love which ties our hearts in one, / And strong that love pursued with amorous pain. / But though besides thyself I leave behind / Heaven's liberal, and the thrice fair sun, / Going to where starved winter aye doth won, / Yet Love's hot fires, which martyr my sad mind, / Do send forth scalding sighs, which have the art / To melt all ice, but that which walls her heart.
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To Mr. Christopher Brooke: Thy Friend, whom Thy Deserts to Thee Enchain 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, Love Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Dedicatory Poetry, Friendship Poetry
- Length: 168 words
- Structure: 1 section, 1 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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- Work identity for To Mr. Christopher Brooke: Thy Friend, whom Thy Deserts to Thee Enchain by John Donne
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Genres
- Metaphysical Poetry — Exemplifies Donne's characteristic metaphysical style with complex conceits, intellectual wit, and far-fetched metaphors linking abstract emotional states to concrete images such as fire and ice; the defining feature of his poetic voice.
- Love Poetry — Centrally concerned with romantic love, affection, and emotional suffering; explores the pain of love through vivid metaphors and intense personal expression of amorous desire.
- Lyric Poetry — A brief, emotionally expressive poem that focuses on personal introspection and feeling rather than narrative; captures a single moment of emotional reflection on love and friendship.
- Dedicatory Poetry — Formally structured as a poem dedicated to a specific person (Christopher Brooke) and likely intended to preface or accompany another work; exemplifies the epistolary verse tradition.
Tags
epistle · dedicatory-verse · metaphysical-poetry · Renaissance · early-modern-English · seventeenth-century · friendship · virtue · merit · admiration · devotion · wit