Holy Sonnets

John Donne (1572 - 1631)

John Donne (1572 – March 31, 1631) was a Jacobean poet and preacher, representative of the metaphysical poets of the period. His works, notable for their realistic and sensual style, include sonnets, love poetry, religious poems, Latin translations, epigrams, elegies, songs, satires and sermons. His poetry is noted for its vibrancy of language and immediacy of metaphor, compared with that of his contemporaries. Towards the end of his life Donne wrote works that challenged death, and the fear that it inspired in many men, on the grounds of his belief that those who die are sent to Heaven to live eternally. One example of this challenge is his Holy Sonnet X, from which come the famous lines “Death, be not proud, though some have called thee mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so.” (Summary from Wikipedia)

Genre(s): Poetry, Christianity - Other

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 01 Holy Sonnet I – Thou hast made me, and shall Thy work decay? David Barnes
00:01:17
Play 02 Holy Sonnet II – As due by many titles I resign my self to Thee… David Barnes
00:01:13
Play 03 Holy Sonnet III – O might those sighs and tears return again… David Barnes
00:01:14
Play 04 Holy Sonnet IV – Oh my black soul! now art thou summoned… David Barnes
00:01:09
Play 05 Holy Sonnet V – I am a little world made cunningly… David Barnes
00:01:14
Play 06 Holy Sonnet VI – This is my play’s last scene… David Barnes
00:01:22
Play 07 Holy Sonnet VII – At the round earth’s imagin’d corners… David Barnes
00:01:15
Play 08 Holy Sonnet VIII – If faithful angels be alike glorified… David Barnes
00:01:10
Play 09 Holy Sonnet IX – If poisonous minerals… David Barnes
00:01:12
Play 10 Holy Sonnet X – Death, be not proud… David Barnes
00:01:19
Play 11 Holy Sonnet XI – Spit in my face you Jews… David Barnes
00:01:16
Play 12 Holy Sonnet XII – Why are we by all creatures waited on? David Barnes
00:01:14
Play 13 Holy Sonnet XIII – What if this present were the world’s last night? David Barnes
00:01:16
Play 14 Holy Sonnet XIV – Batter my heart, three-personed God… David Barnes
00:01:18
Play 15 Holy Sonnet XV – Wilt thou love God, as he thee? David Barnes
00:01:16
Play 16 Holy Sonnet XVI – Father, part of his double interest… David Barnes
00:01:14
Play 17 Holy Sonnet XVII – Since she whom I loved hath paid her last debt… David Barnes
00:01:17
Play 18 Holy Sonnet XVIII – Show me dear Christ, thy spouse so bright and clear… David Barnes
00:01:17
Play 19 Holy Sonnet XIX – Oh, to vex me, contraries meet in one… David Barnes
00:01:14