The Good Morrow -All in on
The Good-Morrow by John Donne
The Full Poem
Did, till we loved? were we not weaned till then,
But sucked on country pleasures, childishly?
Or snorted we in the Seven Sleepers’ den?
’Twas so; but this, all pleasures fancies be.
If ever any beauty I did see,
Which I desired, and got, ’twas but a dream of thee.
And now good morrow to our waking souls,
Which watch not one another out of fear;
For love, all love of other sights controls,
And makes one little room an everywhere.
Let sea-discoverers to new worlds have gone;
Let maps to others, worlds on worlds have shown;
Let us possess one world; each hath one, and is one.
My face in thine eye, thine in mine appears,
And true plain hearts do in the faces rest;
Where can we find two better hemispheres,
Without sharp north, without declining west?
Whatever dies was not mixed equally;
If our two loves be one, or, thou and I
Love so alike that none do slacken, none can die.
Bengali Translation
যতক্ষণ না আমরা প্রেমে পড়েছি? আমরা কি তখনও
শৈশবের মতো গ্রামীণ আনন্দে মগ্ন ছিলাম?
নাকি সাতজন ঘুমন্ত সাধুর গুহায় ঘুমিয়ে ছিলাম?
হ্যাঁ, ছিলাম; কিন্তু এগুলো সবই মনের কল্পনা মাত্র।
যদি কখনও কোনো সৌন্দর্য দেখেছি যা আকর্ষণ করেছিল,
এবং পেয়েছি, তবে তা কেবল তোমার স্বপ্ন ছিল।
এবং এখন আমাদের জাগ্রত আত্মার শুভ সকাল,
যা আর ভয়ে একে অপরের দিকে নজর রাখে না;
প্রেম, যা অন্য সব দৃশ্যের প্রতি নিয়ন্ত্রণ করে,
একটি ছোট্ট কক্ষকে সর্বত্র পরিণত করে।
সমুদ্র অভিযাত্রীরা নতুন পৃথিবী খুঁজে নিক;
অন্যদের মানচিত্র বিশ্ব দেখাক;
আমরা একটি পৃথিবীর মালিক হব; প্রত্যেকের একটি, এবং সে-ই পৃথিবী।
আমার মুখ তোমার চোখে, তোমার মুখ আমার চোখে প্রকাশিত,
এবং সত্যিকারের সরল হৃদয়গুলো মুখে প্রতিফলিত;
আমরা কি দুই ভালো অর্ধগোলার সন্ধান পেতে পারি,
যেখানে নেই তীক্ষ্ণ উত্তরে বাতাস, নেই পশ্চিমে অস্ত যাওয়া?
যা কিছু মরে তা সঠিকভাবে মেশানো হয়নি;
যদি আমাদের দুই প্রেম এক হয়, অথবা, তুমি এবং আমি
এতটাই সমান প্রেম করি যে কেউ দুর্বল হয় না, কেউ মরে না।
Troth
সত্যি
Weaned
দুধ ছাড়ানো
Country Pleasures
গ্রাম্য আনন্দ
Snorted
গর্জন করা
Seven Sleepers’ Den
সাত ঘুমন্তের গুহা
Fancies
কল্পনা
Good Morrow
শুভ সকাল
Waking Souls
জাগ্রত আত্মা
Possess
দখল করা
Discoverers
আবিষ্কারক
Hemispheres
গোলার্ধ
Declining West
পশ্চিমের অবক্ষয়
Mixed Equally
সমান মেশানো
Slackens
শিথিল হওয়া
Die
মরতে থাকা
Fear
ভয়
Desire
আকাঙ্ক্ষা
Dream
স্বপ্ন
Face
মুখ
Eye
চোখ
Control
নিয়ন্ত্রণ
Map
মানচিত্র
Love
ভালোবাসা
Rest
বিশ্রাম
Sharp North
তীক্ষ্ণ উত্তর
Soul
আত্মা
Room
ঘর
Plain
সরল
Equal
সমান
Die
মৃত্যু
Features
Context
The Good Morrow" is a poem by John Donne, written in the early 17th century. The poem is often considered one of Donne's "songs" or "elegies", and it explores the theme of love, particularly spiritual and transformative love, between the speaker and his lover. The context of the poem revolves around the idea of awakening to a new, higher reality of love that transcends physical or earthly concerns.
Summary
At the start of the poem, the speaker reflects on a time before he and his lover truly knew each other, describing their previous relationship as one of ignorance, akin to a dream or childish fantasy. He compares their earlier love to the "seven sleepers' den," a reference to a story where seven young men slept for centuries, unaware of the world changing around them. This suggests that they were in a state of unconsciousness, unaware of the true depth and potential of their love.
As the poem progresses, the speaker shifts to the present, where their love has awakened them both to a new world. The speaker views their love as a mutual, harmonious bond that has elevated their spirits. In this newly discovered, pure relationship, the speaker and his lover are the only two people in the world, and everything they need exists within their shared love. Their love creates a world of its own, unaffected by external concerns or distractions. The poem ends with the speaker asserting that their love is not bound by time or physical separation, as it is rooted in the eternal nature of the soul.
The poem celebrates the idea of true, selfless love that transforms both individuals, elevating them to a higher state of emotional and spiritual awareness. This love is depicted as a perfect, all-encompassing connection that transcends both the physical world and the limitations of time.
Themes
Love and Awakening
The poem explores the theme of awakening to a new, transformative love that transcends physical attraction. It highlights how love can elevate the individuals involved to a higher emotional and spiritual state.
Unity and Completeness
Donne suggests that true love creates a sense of unity, where the two lovers become one. Their love fills their world, making it complete and self-sufficient, without needing anything external.
Spiritual Love
The poem emphasizes the spiritual nature of love, where the connection between the lovers goes beyond the physical and material world. It reflects the idea of an eternal, soul-deep bond.
Transcendence of Time and Space
The speaker suggests that their love is timeless and unaffected by external factors like time or distance, symbolizing the eternal and unchanging nature of true love.
Selflessness and Mutual Growth
In the poem, the lovers' relationship is portrayed as one where both individuals grow and elevate each other. Their love is not possessive but rather selfless, focusing on mutual growth and understanding.
Messages
True Love is Transformative
The poem conveys that true love has the power to awaken and transform individuals, elevating them to a higher emotional and spiritual state.
Love Creates a Complete World
Donne suggests that love can create a self-sufficient, complete world for the lovers, where they do not need anything else to feel fulfilled.
Genuine Love is Pure and Eternal
The poem emphasizes that genuine love is not temporary or based on physical attraction; it is pure, lasting, and eternal.
Love Transcends Time and Space
The message of the poem suggests that true love is unaffected by time, distance, or external circumstances, symbolizing an unchanging connection.
Love is a Mutual Journey of Growth
The poem highlights the idea that love is not a one-sided experience. It is a mutual journey where both lovers help each other grow emotionally and spiritually.
Questions and Answers
Shortest Questions (1 Mark)
- Who wrote The Good-Morrow? John Donne wrote The Good-Morrow.
- What does "Good Morrow" mean? "Good Morrow" means good morning or a new beginning.
- What is the central theme of the poem? The central theme of the poem is eternal and spiritual love.
- What does "Seven Sleepers' Den" refer to? It refers to a legend about seven saints who slept in a cave for centuries.
- What does the poet compare love to? The poet compares love to new worlds and perfect hemispheres.
- What is the rhyme scheme of the poem? The rhyme scheme is ABABCCC for each stanza.
- How does the poet describe true love? True love is eternal, balanced, and unchanging.
- What does "one little room an everywhere" mean? It means the lovers' world is complete within their love.
- What is the tone of the poem? The tone is optimistic and celebratory.
- What does "plain hearts" refer to? It refers to honest and pure hearts.
Short Questions (4 Marks)
Q: What is conceit? Give examples from The Good Morrow.
Answer- A conceit is a type of metaphor that makes a surprising or unusual comparison between two very different things. It is often used in metaphysical poetry to show clever ideas and complex thoughts. In John Donne’s The Good-Morrow, there are several examples of conceits that connect love with new ideas.
One example is when Donne compares his and his lover’s souls to two halves of a single world. He says, "If our two loves be one, or thou and I / Love so alike, that none do slacken, none can die." This conceit suggests that their love is so strong and equal that it creates a perfect balance, like two halves forming a whole.
Another example is when Donne compares their love to explorers discovering new worlds. He writes, "Let sea-discoverers to new worlds have gone," showing how love can open up new, exciting experiences.
Q: What are the features of metaphysical poetry? Answer referring The Good Morrow.
Metaphysical poetry has some unique features that make it different from other types of poetry. These poems often deal with deep ideas like love, life, and the soul. The poets use clever comparisons, called conceits, and create intellectual arguments. John Donne’s The Good-Morrow shows these features clearly.
One feature is the use of conceits, where Donne compares love to new worlds or to two halves of a whole. This makes the poem more thoughtful and imaginative.
Another feature is the focus on both the physical and spiritual aspects of love. In The Good-Morrow, Donne talks about how love has grown from simple attraction to a deep connection of the soul.
The poem also uses philosophical ideas, asking questions like what life was like before they fell in love. These deep thoughts and clever comparisons are typical of metaphysical poetry, as seen in The Good-Morrow.
Broad Questions (10 Marks)
1. What features of metaphysical poetry do you find in The Good-Morrow? / Or, What metaphysical qualities do you find in the poem "The Good Morrow"?
1. Metaphysical Features in "The Good-Morrow"
John Donne’s poem The Good-Morrow is an excellent example of metaphysical poetry. Metaphysical poetry often deals with deep subjects like love, life, and the nature of the universe, using intellectual arguments, imagery, and a conversational tone. Here are some features of metaphysical poetry found in the poem:
- Intellectual Arguments (Conceits): In The Good-Morrow, Donne presents love as a powerful intellectual connection. He compares his and his beloved’s love to explorers discovering new worlds, a metaphysical conceit (an extended metaphor) where their love is seen as something vast and undiscovered, just like new lands. For example, in the lines, "Let sea-discoverers to new worlds have gone," Donne compares their love to explorers finding new places, suggesting that their love is unique and boundless.
- Exploration of the Soul and Body: Metaphysical poetry often explores the relationship between the physical and spiritual world. In the poem, Donne talks about how the love between him and his beloved has evolved from a physical attraction to a deep, soulful connection. He mentions that their love has "awakened" their souls, implying that true love goes beyond physical attraction and touches the soul.
- Use of Paradoxes: A paradox is a statement that seems contradictory but reveals a deeper truth. In The Good-Morrow, Donne uses paradoxes to express the completeness of their love. He suggests that two separate people can become one through love. For example, he writes, "If our two loves be one, or, thou and I / Love so alike, that none do slacken, none can die." This idea of two becoming one is a paradox, but it reveals the strength and unity of their love.
- Philosophical Themes: The poem touches on philosophical themes like the nature of love and existence. Donne questions what life was like before they fell in love and suggests that their past experiences were meaningless compared to their present connection. This kind of philosophical questioning is typical in metaphysical poetry, as the poet tries to understand deep truths about life and love.
In summary, The Good-Morrow contains intellectual arguments, explores the relationship between body and soul, uses paradoxes, and discusses deep philosophical ideas, all of which are common features of metaphysical poetry.
2. What are the different stages of love that you find in The Good-Morrow? / How does John Donne treat love in his poem The Good Morrow?
Stages of Love in "The Good-Morrow"
In The Good-Morrow, John Donne describes different stages of love, showing how love matures and deepens over time. The poem takes the reader through the journey of love from physical attraction to a spiritual connection, presenting love in a complex and philosophical way.
- Pre-Love Stage: At the beginning of the poem, Donne reflects on life before true love. He calls this stage a time of ignorance, where he and his beloved were like children playing. He suggests that before finding real love, they were only focused on physical pleasures, saying, "I wonder, by my troth, what thou and I / Did, till we loved?" This stage represents the time when love was shallow and based only on outward attraction.
- Awakening to True Love: In the second stage, Donne describes how love has "awakened" them, like waking up from a deep sleep. Their love has moved beyond physical attraction, and now it includes the soul and mind. He suggests that true love makes them feel fully alive and aware, saying, "But sucked on country pleasures, childishly? / Or snorted we in the Seven Sleepers' den?" This stage is about realizing that love is not just about physical connection but also about emotional and spiritual bonding.
- Unity and Completeness in Love: In the final stage, Donne expresses that their love has reached a point where it is perfect and complete. He uses metaphors to show how they have become two halves of one whole, saying, "If our two loves be one, or, thou and I / Love so alike, that none do slacken, none can die." This stage represents a love that is balanced, where both partners are equal and their love is everlasting. Their love is not affected by the outside world; it exists in its own universe.
Conclusion: Donne's treatment of love in The Good-Morrow shows how love can grow and evolve. It moves from a childish, physical attraction to a deeper, soulful connection that brings completeness and unity. The poem suggests that true love transcends the physical world and becomes something eternal and spiritual.
