John Donne Short Poems

Famous Short John Donne Poems. Short poetry by famous poet John Donne. A collection of the all-time best John Donne short poems

• John Donne Poems
• John Donne Best Poems

Daybreak  

STAY O sweet and do not rise! 
The light that shines comes from thine eyes; 
The day breaks not: it is my heart  
Because that you and I must part.
 
Stay! or else my joys will die 5 
And perish in their infancy.
 

For Whom The Bell Tolls  

 No man is an island,
Entire of itself.

Each is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.

If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.

As well as if a promontory were.

As well as if a manner of thine own
Or of thine friend's were.

Each man's death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.

Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee.

A Lame Beggar  

 I am unable, yonder beggar cries,
To stand, or move; if he say true, he lies.

To England  

 There are no postage stamps that send letters
back to England three centuries ago,
no postage stamps that make letters
travel back until the grave hasn't been dug yet,
and John Donne stands looking out the window,
it is just beginning to rain this April morning,
and the birds are falling into the trees
like chess pieces into an unplayed game,
and John Donne sees the postman coming up the street,
the postman walks very carefully because his cane
is made of glass.

To John Donne  

 Donne, the delight of Phoebus and each Muse
Who, to thy one, all other brains refuse;
Whose every work of thy most early wit
Came forth example, and remains so yet;
Longer a-knowing than most wits do live;
And which no affection praise enough can give!
To it, thy language, letters, arts, best life,
Which might with half mankind maintain a strife.

All which I meant to praise, and yet I would;
But leave, because I cannot as I should!