The Triple Fool

John Donne 1572 (London) – 1631 (London)



I am two fools, I know—
For loving, and for saying so
In whining poetry;
But where's that wiseman that would not be I,
If she would not deny?
Then, as th' earths inward narrow crooked lanes
Do purge sea waters fretful salt away,
I thought, if I could draw my pains
Through rhymes vexation, I should them allay.
Grief brought to numbers cannot be so fierce,
For he tames it that fetters it in verse.

But when I have done so,
Some man, his art and voice to show,
Doth set and sing my pain,
And, by delighting many, frees again
Grief, which verse did restrain.
To Love and Grief tribute of verse belongs,
But not of such as pleases when 'tis read;
Both are increased by such songs,
For both their triumphs so are published;
And I, which was two fooles, do so grow three;
Who are a little wise, the best fools be.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

47 sec read
122

Quick analysis:

Scheme AABCCDEDEXX AAFXFGXGXBB
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 799
Words 158
Stanzas 2
Stanza Lengths 11, 11

John Donne

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

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