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Holy Sonnets

Holy Sonnets

by John Donne

About this book

John Donne (1572 – March 31, 1631) was a Jacobean poet and preacher, representative of the metaphysical poets of the period. His works, notable for their realistic and sensual style, include sonnets, love poetry, religious poems, Latin translations, epigrams, elegies, songs, satires and sermons. His poetry is noted for its vibrancy of language and immediacy of metaphor, compared with that of his contemporaries. Towards the end of his life Donne wrote works that challenged death, and the fear that it inspired in many men, on the grounds of his belief that those who die are sent to Heaven to live eternally. One example of this challenge is his Holy Sonnet X, from which come the famous lines “Death, be not proud, though some have called thee mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so.” (Summary from Wikipedia)

Chapters

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  1. 1Holy Sonnet I – Thou hast made me, and shall Thy work decay?1:17 · read by David Barnes
  2. 2Holy Sonnet II – As due by many titles I resign my self to Thee…1:13 · read by David Barnes
  3. 3Holy Sonnet III – O might those sighs and tears return again…1:14 · read by David Barnes
  4. 4Holy Sonnet IV – Oh my black soul! now art thou summoned…1:09 · read by David Barnes
  5. 5Holy Sonnet V – I am a little world made cunningly…1:14 · read by David Barnes
  6. 6Holy Sonnet VI – This is my play’s last scene…1:22 · read by David Barnes
  7. 7Holy Sonnet VII – At the round earth’s imagin’d corners…1:15 · read by David Barnes
  8. 8Holy Sonnet VIII – If faithful angels be alike glorified…1:10 · read by David Barnes
  9. 9Holy Sonnet IX – If poisonous minerals…1:12 · read by David Barnes
  10. 10Holy Sonnet X – Death, be not proud…1:19 · read by David Barnes
  11. 11Holy Sonnet XI – Spit in my face you Jews…1:16 · read by David Barnes
  12. 12Holy Sonnet XII – Why are we by all creatures waited on?1:14 · read by David Barnes
  13. 13Holy Sonnet XIII – What if this present were the world’s last night?1:16 · read by David Barnes
  14. 14Holy Sonnet XIV – Batter my heart, three-personed God…1:18 · read by David Barnes
  15. 15Holy Sonnet XV – Wilt thou love God, as he thee?1:16 · read by David Barnes
  16. 16Holy Sonnet XVI – Father, part of his double interest…1:14 · read by David Barnes
  17. 17Holy Sonnet XVII – Since she whom I loved hath paid her last debt…1:17 · read by David Barnes
  18. 18Holy Sonnet XVIII – Show me dear Christ, thy spouse so bright and clear…1:17 · read by David Barnes
  19. 19Holy Sonnet XIX – Oh, to vex me, contraries meet in one…1:14 · read by David Barnes

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