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“A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning” is a poem by the English poet John Donne, likely written in 1611 but not published until 1633
. The word valediction refers to the act of bidding someone farewell, and it’s possible that Donne addressed the poem to his wife, Anna, prior to leaving on a diplomatic trip to France. Historically, the poem has represented a flashpoint in debates about so-called “metaphysical poetry” and its use of elaborate conceits. Donne’s poem famously includes a sustained description of two lovers as a draftsman’s compass—at once separate yet connected. Critics have long argued about whether this conceit is an example of poetic excess or poetic genius.Read the free full text, a summary & analysis, an analysis of the speaker, and explanations of important quotes from “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning.”
