A Lecture Upon The Shadow

John Donne 1572 (London) – 1631 (London)



Stand still, and I will read to thee
A lecture, love, in love's philosophy.
    These three hours that we have spent,
    Walking here, two shadows went
Along with us, which we ourselves produc'd.
But, now the sun is just above our head,
    We do those shadows tread,
    And to brave clearness all things are reduc'd.
So whilst our infant loves did grow,
Disguises did, and shadows, flow
From us, and our cares; but now 'tis not so.
That love has not attain'd the high'st degree,
Which is still diligent lest others see.

Except our loves at this noon stay,
We shall new shadows make the other way.
    As the first were made to blind
    Others, these which come behind
Will work upon ourselves, and blind our eyes.
If our loves faint, and westwardly decline,
    To me thou, falsely, thine,
    And I to thee mine actions shall disguise.
The morning shadows wear away,
But these grow longer all the day;
But oh, love's day is short, if love decay.
Love is a growing, or full constant light,
And his first minute, after noon, is night.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on May 03, 2023

57 sec read
256

Quick analysis:

Scheme AABBCDDCEEEAA FFGGHIIHFFFJJ
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 1,020
Words 186
Stanzas 2
Stanza Lengths 13, 13

John Donne

John Donne was an English poet, satirist, lawyer and a cleric in the Church of England. more…

All John Donne poems | John Donne Books

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