Feeling Further than Physical Fantasy

Donne has a remarkable writing style unique from other poets of his time. Each of his poems is comprised of massive amounts of writing instruments such as: similes, metaphors, alliteration, and punctuation to paint a more lucid picture of what he is trying to say. In many of his poems, Donne also uses complicated rhyming schemes as well as alternating between poetic meters. For example, in “The Sun Rising” is metered in pentameter, dimeter, as well iambic tetrameter.  However, “A Valediction Forbidding Mourning” is atypical in that although many writing instruments are used, the rhyme scheme is a very simple ABAB pattern. Also, instead of interchanging meters, he simply uses iambic tetrameter throughout the poem. In accordance with the rest of his writing, the simplicity of his rhyming scheme as well as how it is metered is done purposefully in order to communicate a certain message.

Beginning in line 25, Donne uses a metaphor comparing their love to a compass to show that their love is everlasting. He writes, “And though it in the centre sit,/ Yet, when the other far doth roam,/It leans, and hearkens after it,/ And grows erect, as that comes home” (line 29). Although the two points are separated they are a part of the same object, meaning him and his wife are a part of the same soul. Although space will separate them, he will always “end where he begun” (line 36). A simile is also used in line 24 when he compares him and his wife’s soul to gold showing that their souls are not being separated, rather, stretched and elongated. “Our two souls therefore, which are one,/ Though I must go, endure not yet/ A breach, but an expansion,/ Like gold to aery thinness beat” (line 20). Gold can be thinned if it is pounded, but it will always be the same consistency, just like although their souls will be stretched by the distance it will never be separated.

Another tool Donne utilizes throughout the poem to communicate his thoughts is alliteration. “Whilst some of their sad friends do say” (line 3), and “Dull sublunary lovers' love” (line 13) are just two examples of the many in this poem. Alliteration supports his writing by stressing certain lines in the poem to better convey an idea.

Finally, and most noteworthy, Donne uses a very simple rhyme scheme of ABAB. He uses this in order to communicate that their love is not complicated. It need not be thwarted by distance, but always remain very pleasant and simple. Metered in only iambic tetrameter, this also stresses the same point. The rhythm of the poem is consistent and never changes, just like when they are separated their soul and love will never change.