Monday Poetry: Holy Sonnet 10

(public domain in US)

John Donne was one of the greatest composer of sonnets (a poetry favorite of mine) who rivals even William Shakespeare in supremacy.

His most famous opening line "Death be not proud" is something that we should always keep in mind.  For those with faith, Death is not permanent but temporary.  It is the "short sleep."  It is the last big nap.

In the New World, He will "wipe away all tears from our eyes and there will be no more death.  Neither sorrow, nor crying, no more pain for the former world has passed away."

Death, be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadful, for thou are not so;
For those whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow
Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me.
From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be,
Much pleasure; then from thee much more must flow,
And soonest our best men with thee do go,
Rest of their bones, and soul's delivery.
Thou'art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men,
And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell,
And poppy'or charms can make us sleep as well
And better than thy stroke; why swell'st thou then?
One short sleep past, we wake eternally,
And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die.