PoemThe Relic
Author / PoetJohn Donne
TagsFaith, Love, Miracles, Relics

When my grave is broke up again
Some second guest to entertain,
(For graves have learn’d that woman head,
To be to more than one a bed)
And he that digs it, spies
A bracelet of bright hair about the bone,
Will he not let’us alone,
And think that there a loving couple lies,
Who thought that this device might be some way
To make their souls, at the last busy day,
Meet at this grave, and make a little stay?

If this fall in a time, or land,
Where mis-devotion doth command,
Then he, that digs us up, will bring
Us to the bishop, and the king,
To make us relics; then
Thou shalt be a Mary Magdalen, and I
A something else thereby;
All women shall adore us, and some men;
And since at such time miracles are sought,
I would have that age by this paper taught
What miracles we harmless lovers wrought.

First, we lov’d well and faithfully,
Yet knew not what we lov’d, nor why;
Difference of sex no more we knew
Than our guardian angels do;
Coming and going, we
Perchance might kiss, but not between those meals;
Our hands ne’er touch’d the seals
Which nature, injur’d by late law, sets free;
These miracles we did, but now alas,
All measure, and all language, I should pass,
Should I tell what a miracle she was.

John Donne
John Donne
22 Jan 1572 - 31 Mar 1631
Region: Western Europe
Period: Renaissance
Movement: Metaphysical Poetry

more poems by John Donne

Poem NameTopic
The Sun RisingLove, Power, Rebellion
Hymn to God, My God, In My SicknessDeath, Music, Resurrection
Go and Catch a Falling StarEnvy, False, Star
A Hymn To God The FatherDeath, Fear, Forgiveness
Death Be Not ProudDeath, Eternity, Fate
The BaitDeceit, Fish, Love
A Valediction: Forbidding MourningAbsence, Love, Soul
Love’s GrowthChange, Growth, Love

all poems by John Donne

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