Write the substance and explanation of the poem entitled The Canonization

Write the substance and explanation of the poem entitled The Canonization.

Ans.

Substance of the Poem

The poet addresses an invisible man and asks him to let him love his beloved and not to create any obstruction in his love making. He further asks him not to remind him of his growing age and weakness (the invisible man) may do whatever he likes for his worldly success but he (the poet) would like him not to disturb him while he is making love to his mistress. There will not fall any disaster on any one if he loves his sweetheart and his love will not cause any harm to anyone. Their love for each other is firm and they will live and die together in love. Their position is like that of moth that burns itself. They are also ready to die together. If they are not allowed to live together in love, they can at least die together in love. After their death, they will be called the saints of love and the world will always remember them as true lovers.

Explanations

(1) For Godsake hold your tongue, and let me love,

Or childe my palsie, or my gout

My five gray haires, or ruin’d fortunate flout.

With wealth your state, your minde with Arts improve,

Take you a course, get you a place,

Observe his honour, or his grace,

Or the Kings recall, or his stamped face

Contemplate; what you will, approve

So you will let me love.

Reference to the Context: These lines have been taken from John Donne’s famous poem, The Canonization. The poet claims in this poem that he is a saint of love. His friend asks him to take interest in worldly things. but the poet is interested only in love-making.

Explanation: The poet asks his friend to be silent in the name of God. The friend should not disturb in his love-making. There is no need to remind him of his physical weaknesses. He knows that he has some marks of old age and misfortune laughs at him. The poet’s friend should be devoted to his study to be successful in being properly placed in life. He should mark the King’s great honour, stately pomp and show. He should visit the royal court to flatter the King and think about his fate printed on coins. He should earn money by doing what the King commands. But the poet gives more importance to his love than these activities. Therefore, he should be allowed to make love without restriction.

Comments: (i) Novelty of thought and expression.

(ii) Satire on worldly activities.

(iii) Dramatic tone.

(2) Call us what you will, We’ are made such by love;

Call her one, mee another flye

We’ are Tapers too, and our owne cost die,

And wee in us finde the’ Eagle and the Dove;

The Phoenix ridle hath more wit

By us, wee two being one, are it.

So, to one neutrall thing both sexes fit.

Wee dye and rise the same, and prove

Mysterious by this love.

Reference to the Context: These lines have been taken from John Donne’s famous poem, The Canonization. His friend asks him to take interest in worldly things but the poet is interested only in love-making. It is his personal matter he does not harm anybody.

Explanation: The poet does not care for what names his friend gives to them. It is better to call them flies but they are candles as well for they are ready to die for each other. They act as the destroyer as well as the destroyed, being the eagle and the dove together. They have solved the Phoenix riddle how it takes birth from the ashes of the former and only one survives at a time. Being perfectly united in love they have become one and as a single unit they represent both the sexes: male and female. They will die together and rise (come back to life) together and they will prove that the power of love has made them mysterious like the Phoenix.

Comments: (i) Metaphysical concept of love.

(ii) Far-fetched images.

(3) Wee can dye by it, if not live by love,

And if unfit for tombes or hearse

Our legend bee, it will be fit for verse;

And if no peece of Chronicle wee prove,

We’ll build in sonnets pretty roomes;

As well a well wrought urne becomes

The greatest ashes, as halfe-acre tombes,

And by these hymnes, all shall approve

Us Canoniz’d for love.

Reference to the Context: As given above.

Explanation: The poet declares if the world does not allow them to live in love they are willing to die in love. If no tomb is built to honour their love, bards and poets will immortalize their love by making songs of this affair. They may not have any reference in the book of history, their names will appear in love-sonnets. Their reference in love song is as good as the urn of ashes kept in a monument constructed in half an acre of land. These songs will immortalize them as saints of love.

Comments: (i) Novelty of thought and expression.

(ii) Metaphysical concept of love.