To Mr. I. L.: of that Short Roll of Friends Writ

Name: To Mr. I. L.: of that Short Roll of Friends Writ in my Heart
Author: John Donne

John Donne addresses this verse letter to a friend identified only as I. L., naming him first among the short roll of friends written in the poet's heart. Since their parting, all the others on that roll send greetings from time to time, whether they remain in the English provinces or drink from the Po, the Sequane, or the Danuby; only I. L.'s own Trent acts as a Lethe, so that once he has crossed it he forgets the poet and his circle. Donne then charges I. L. with neglecting the duties owed to friendship and society. He describes the round of domestic contentment that keeps I. L. from writing: rising from the embrace of a loved wife, viewing his fat beasts, his stretched barns, and his laboured fields, then eating, playing, and riding, taking all the joys the day yields, before returning again to his wife's embraces. Donne urges him to set aside some hours for his friends and some for his Muse, warning that otherwise both will suffer regret — Donne for the love he has spent on I. L., and the Muse for the gifts she has spent on him.

By John Donne · First published 1633 · Genre: Metaphysical Poetry, Verse Epistle, Lyric Poetry · 191 words

First lines

Of that short roll of friends writ in my heart, / Which with thy name begins, since their depart, / Whether in th' English provinces they be, / Or drink of Po, Sequane, or Danuby, / There's none that sometime greets us not, and yet / Your Trent is Lethe; that past, us you forget. / You do not duties of societies, / If from th' embrace of a loved wife you rise, / View your fat beasts, stretch'd barns, and labour'd fields, / Eat, play, ride, take all joys which all day yields, / And then again to your embracements go. / Some hours on us your friends, and some bestow / Upon your Muse, else both we shall repent; / I that my love, she that her gifts on you are spent.

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To Mr. I. L.: of that Short Roll of Friends Writ in my Heart 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, Verse Epistle, Lyric Poetry, Occasional Poetry, Dedicatory Poem
Length: 191 words
Structure: 1 section, 1 paragraphs
Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

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Genres

Metaphysical Poetry — Exemplifies Donne's signature metaphysical style with intellectual wit, complex conceits, philosophical exploration of friendship and memory, and classical allusions (Lethe, Po, Sequane, Danube) characteristic of the metaphysical school.
Verse Epistle — Written as a direct address to Mr. I.L. in letter form, employing second-person voice throughout to communicate intimately with a specific individual recipient.
Lyric Poetry — Expresses personal emotion, introspection, and the speaker's intimate concerns about friendship, absence, and potential loss of connection through deeply felt language.
Occasional Poetry — Composed for a specific person and circumstance, commemorating the friend's departure and reflecting on the consequences of physical separation.