Good Morrow
Written by the flamboyant metaphysical poet of late 16th century, John Donne; this poem “Good Morrow” is characterised by buoyant use of life enhancing optimism and grandeur characterised by use of far-fetched images and conceits leaving an indelible imprint on the mind of the reader. The poem was published in the Songs and Sonnets collection in 1633 and was written around the same time when Donne met his wife, Anne more who is therefore believed to be the fantasy woman of the private kingdom of this poem. The poet has celebrated love as the pinnacles of all pleasures that transcend all the physical boundaries. The word “Good Morrow” is in itself an archaic word standing for “Good Morning” and is significant as the title not only because it is an aubade set up in morning but also because the realization of true love has dawned over the poet and his lover.
The first stanza itself abruptly begins with line, “I wonder, by my troth, what thou and I…” creating a dramatic effect, colloquial in nature where the poet aims to be quite personal with the reader, almost to the point of being argumentative that is achieved when Donne opens the first line of poem with a startling directness, using the word "I", and ends it with the word "I", making the line almost symmetrical using device of epanadiplosis. The use of the symmetry in the first line implies that perhaps his life before meeting his lover was structured and dull which becomes clear as he further refers to all the frivolous and childish things they did before they had met and fallen in love with each other. It also tends to signify that love distorts one’s sense of reality to such an extent that what has passed before starts seeming to be unreal that is further stressed upon by the use of alliteration “Were we not weaned till then?” The poem has also in it here, the indirect reference to Bible register when he says “Or snorted we in the seven sleepers den?” referring to the legend of seven sleepers den of Ephesus
The first stanza itself abruptly begins with line, “I wonder, by my troth, what thou and I…” creating a dramatic effect, colloquial in nature where the poet aims to be quite personal with the reader, almost to the point of being argumentative that is achieved when Donne opens the first line of poem with a startling directness, using the word "I", and ends it with the word "I", making the line almost symmetrical using device of epanadiplosis. The use of the symmetry in the first line implies that perhaps his life before meeting his lover was structured and dull which becomes clear as he further refers to all the frivolous and childish things they did before they had met and fallen in love with each other. It also tends to signify that love distorts one’s sense of reality to such an extent that what has passed before starts seeming to be unreal that is further stressed upon by the use of alliteration “Were we not weaned till then?” The poem has also in it here, the indirect reference to Bible register when he says “Or snorted we in the seven sleepers den?” referring to the legend of seven sleepers den of Ephesus
Bibliography: Five Metaphysical Poets Hardcover – Import, 3 Jan 1964 by Joan Bennett MASSEY, LARA BELL. A “fitter” Text of John Donne’s “The Good Morrow.” Internet