To Mr. Thomas Woodward: Haste Thee, Harsh Verse,
The speaker urges his own poem, however hindered by its imperfect meter, to hasten to Mr. Thomas Woodward carrying both his pain and his pleasure. He acknowledges having equipped the verse as best he can, giving it feet, a reasoning soul, and a tongue to speak, yet admits it remains too weak for the task. He instructs it to tell Woodward that all disputes men have argued over, concerning the location and the torments of hell, are now settled: it is decreed that hell is nothing but privation of Woodward himself, at least as experienced within this earthly dwelling. He locates himself in a place, a street, where infections continually follow, overtake, and meet one another. Whether he lives or dies, he declares that his love is sent by means of this verse, and calls the poem either his pawn or his testament.
By John Donne · First published 1633 · Genre: Metaphysical Poetry, Love Poetry, Lyric Poetry · 165 words
First lines
Haste thee, harsh verse, as fast as thy lame measure / Will give thee leave, to him-my pain and pleasure. / I've given thee, and yet thou art too weak, / Feet, and a reasoning soul, and tongue to speak. / Tell him all questions, which men have defended, / Both of the place and pains of hell, are ended; / And 'tis decreed, our hell is but privation / Of him, at least in this earth's habitation. / And 'tis where I am, where in every street / Infections follow, overtake, and meet. / Live I or die, by you my love is sent; / And you're my pawns, or else my testament.
What this Textopian page supports
To Mr. Thomas Woodward: Haste Thee, Harsh Verse, as Fast as Thy Lame Measure 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, Love Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Devotional Poetry, Poetry of Separation
- Length: 165 words
- Structure: 1 section, 1 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for To Mr. Thomas Woodward: Haste Thee, Harsh Verse, as Fast as Thy Lame Measure by John Donne
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Similar titles
- The Expostulation by John Donne
- Of The Progress Of The Soul The Second Anniversary by John Donne
- The Will by John Donne
- Since She Whom I Loved Hath Paid Her Last Debt by John Donne
- To Mr Samuel Brooke by John Donne
- The Blossom by John Donne
Genres
- Metaphysical Poetry — Quintessential Donne employing extended conceits that compare emotional/spiritual absence to theological concepts; demonstrates the metaphysical method of using paradox, philosophical argument, and startling imagery to explore intimate experience
- Love Poetry — Centrally explores devotion, pain, and pleasure intertwined; the beloved's presence or absence determines the speaker's existence and suffering; love is figured as both sustaining force and source of anguish
- Lyric Poetry — Intensely personal first-person expression of subjective emotion and internal state; designed for contemplative reading and emotional resonance rather than narrative progression
- Devotional Poetry — Combines religious and theological imagery with personal longing; themes of devotion and submission; meditation on sacred concepts like hell and divine privation
Tags
poetry · epistolary · metaphysical · early modern english · satirical · wit · conceit · ironic · meta-poetic · critical · formal verse · renaissance