Metaphysical Poetry

Metaphysical poetry is a very short type of poem considering that it often deals with deep philosophical topics such as humans dealing with god and fearfulness of death.

Wit and irony are very common, used to compare to unsimilar objects. Metaphysical poetry is full of bold stylistic writing such as clever rhymes or poem structure that correlates with the meaning of the poem. Huge shifts in scale of ideas or mixing of them such as a rock to the sun.

Metaphysical poetry is written on large ideas that cant really be proven but are wondered about all the time such as the passing of time etc...

Authors: George Herbert, Andrew Marvell, John Donne

by: George Herbert

THE COLLAR. I STRUCK the board, and cry’d, No more ; I will abroad. What ? shall I ever sigh and pine ? My lines and life are free ; free as the rode, Loose as the winde, as large as store. Shall I be still in suit ? Have I no harvest but a thorn To let me bloud, and not restore What I have lost with cordiall fruit ? Sure there was wine, Before my sighs did drie it : there was corn Before my tears did drown it. Is the yeare onely lost to me ? Have I no bayes to crown it ? No flowers, no garlands gay ? all blasted ? All wasted ? Not so, my heart : but there is fruit, And thou hast hands. Recover all thy sigh-blown age On double pleasures : leave thy cold dispute Of what is fit, and not forsake thy cage, Thy rope of sands, Which pettie thoughts have made, and made to thee Good cable, to enforce and draw, And be thy law, While thou didst wink and wouldst not see. Away ; take heed : I will abroad. Call in thy deaths head there : tie up thy fears. He that forbears To suit and serve his need, Deserves his load. But as I rav’d and grew more fierce and wilde, At every word, Methought I heard one calling, Childe : And I reply’d, My Lord.