To Mr. Samuel Brooke by John Donne
This poem, addressed to Samuel Brooke, likens him to a voyager who has boldly launched into the vast sea of arts in search of the secret parts of India, or rather Paradise, of knowledge. The speaker urges him, in his constant travelling, not to disdain doing as other voyagers do: making some turns into lesser creeks and wisely taking fresh water at the Heliconian spring. The speaker states that he himself does not sing like a siren to tempt Brooke, for he is harsh, nor is he like those schismatics who draw all wits of good hope to their crew. Rather, seeing in Brooke bright sparks of poetry, the speaker, though bringing no fuel himself, expresses his desire to blow the fire with these articulate blasts.
By John Donne · First published 1633 · Genre: Dedicatory Poetry, Metaphysical Poetry, Verse Epistle · 163 words
First lines
O Thou which to search out the secret parts / Of the India, or rather Paradise / Of knowledge, hast with courage and advice / Lately launch'd into the vast sea of arts; / Disdain not in thy constant travelling / To do as other voyagers, and make / Some turns into less creeks, and wisely take / Fresh water at the Heliconian spring. / I sing not, siren-like, to tempt, for I / Am harsh; nor as those schismatics with you, / Which draw all wits of good hope to their crew; / But seeing in you bright sparks of poetry, / I, though I brought no fuel, had desire / With these articulate blasts to blow the fire.
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To Mr. Samuel Brooke 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: Dedicatory Poetry, Metaphysical Poetry, Verse Epistle, Lyric Poetry, Didactic Poetry
- Length: 163 words
- Structure: 1 section, 1 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)
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Genres
- Dedicatory Poetry — The poem functions as a commendatory verse prefacing another's work, directly addressing and praising Samuel Brooke's intellectual endeavors, following the tradition of dedicatory verses.
- Metaphysical Poetry — Donne employs characteristic Metaphysical conceits, extending the metaphor of intellectual pursuit as a voyage through the 'vast sea of arts,' demonstrating the intellectual wit, paradox, and complex imagery central to the Metaphysical movement.
- Verse Epistle — Structured as a direct address to a named individual with personal counsel and encouragement, the poem employs the form of epistolary poetry addressing Samuel Brooke about his intellectual journey.
- Lyric Poetry — While addressed to another, the poem expresses personal perspective and emotion about poetry, inspiration, and intellectual pursuit in an intimate, subjective manner characteristic of lyric verse.
Tags
verse epistle · dedicatory · metaphysical · wit · conceit · friendship · praise · intellectual · baroque · early modern · lyric · commendatory