'Holy Sonnet XII: Why Are We By All Creatures Waited On?' by John Donne
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
Why are we by all creatures waited on?
Why do the prodigal elements supply
Life and food to me, being more pure than I,
Simple, and further from corruption?
Why brook'st thou, ignorant horse, subjection?
Why dost thou, bull, and bore so seelily,
Dissemble weakness, and by one man's stroke die,
Whose whole kind you might swallow and feed upon?
Weaker I am, woe is me, and worse than you,
You have not sinned, nor need be timorous.
But wonder at a greater wonder, for to us
Created nature doth these things subdue,
But their Creator, whom sin nor nature tied,
For us, His creatures, and His foes, hath died.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Holy Sonnet XII: Why Are We By All Creatures Waited On?
By John Donne
Why are we by all creatures waited on? Why do the prodigal elements supply Life and food to me, being more pure than I, Simple, and further from corruption?
Why brook'st thou, ignorant horse, subjection? Why dost thou, bull, and boar so seelily Dissemble anger, when thou wilt at once Charge with thy flying heels?
O, how much more doth beauty beauteous seem By that sweet ornament which truth doth give! The rose looks fair, but fairer we it deem For that sweet odour which doth in it live.
Why art thou then so partial, O fond light, To cause thyself to shine in the dark, And leave us in the dark?
Is it thy will thy image should keep open My heavy eyelids to the weary night? Dost thou desire my slumbers should be broken, While shadows like to thee do mock my sight?
Is it thy spirit that thou send'st from thee So far from home, into my deeds to pry, To find out shames and idle hours in me, The scope and tenor of thy jealousy?
O, no; thy love, though much, is not so great: It is my love that keeps mine eye awake: Mine own true love that doth my rest defeat, To play the watchman ever for thy sake:
For thee watch I, whilst thou dost wake elsewhere, From me far off, with others all too near.
Introduction
John Donne's Holy Sonnet XII is a reflection on the nature of God's care and benevolence towards man. The poem is written in the form of a series of rhetorical questions, each one leading to a deeper understanding of the relationship between man and God's creation. Donne explores the idea that all creatures are waiting on man, providing him with food and sustenance, despite being more pure and simple than he.
The poem also touches on the idea of beauty, and how it is enhanced by the presence of truth. Donne contrasts the appearance of a rose with its sweet odour, suggesting that its beauty is made more apparent by the fragrance it emits. He also questions the nature of light, asking why it should favour itself over man and leave him in darkness.
Ultimately, the poem suggests that it is not God who is watching over man, but man who is watching over God. The love that man has for God is what drives him to stay awake, watching for signs of his presence and keeping his eye open for any hint of his presence.
Analysis
The first line of the poem poses a simple question, "Why are we by all creatures waited on?" This question sets the tone for the rest of the poem, challenging the reader to consider their place in the world and their relationship to the other creatures that inhabit it. The poem goes on to suggest that man is somehow different from all other creatures, in that he is waited on by them and provided with food and sustenance.
Donne then poses the question, "Why do the prodigal elements supply life and food to me, being more pure than I?" This question suggests that man is somehow unworthy of the care and attention that he receives from the natural world. He is less pure and simple than the elements that sustain him, yet he is still provided for by them. This idea is further explored in the next line, where the poet asks why a horse would submit to the will of a man, or why a bull or boar would dissemble their anger.
The poem then shifts its focus to the power of beauty, and how it can be heightened by the presence of truth. Donne writes, "O, how much more doth beauty beauteous seem / By that sweet ornament which truth doth give!" Here, he suggests that true beauty is not just skin-deep, but is enhanced by the presence of something deeper and more meaningful. The rose is beautiful, but it is made more so by the sweet odour it emits.
Donne then turns his attention to the nature of light, and how it seems to favour itself over man. He asks, "Why art thou then so partial, O fond light, / To cause thyself to shine in the dark, / And leave us in the dark?" This question suggests that light is somehow playing favourites, shining on itself and leaving man in darkness. This idea is further explored in the next few lines, where Donne questions whether it is the will of the light to keep man awake at night, or whether it is simply mocking him by casting shadows that resemble itself.
The poem then takes a more personal turn, as Donne suggests that it is his own love for God that keeps him awake at night. He writes, "It is my love that keeps mine eye awake: / Mine own true love that doth my rest defeat, / To play the watchman ever for thy sake." Here, the poet suggests that it is not God who is watching over him, but rather he who is watching over God. The love that he has for God drives him to stay awake, watching for signs of his presence and keeping his eye open for any hint of his presence.
Interpretation
Holy Sonnet XII is a complex and multi-layered poem that explores a number of different themes and ideas. One of the central themes of the poem is the relationship between man and the natural world. Donne suggests that man is somehow different from the other creatures that inhabit the world, in that he is waited on by them and provided with food and sustenance. This idea highlights the special place that man holds in the world, and the unique role that he plays in the natural order of things.
Another important theme of the poem is the power of beauty, and how it can be enhanced by the presence of truth. Donne suggests that true beauty is not just a matter of appearance, but is something deeper and more meaningful. This idea is reflected in the poet's description of the rose, which is made more beautiful by the sweet odour it emits.
The poem also explores the nature of light, and how it seems to favour itself over man. Donne suggests that light is somehow playing favourites, shining on itself and leaving man in darkness. This idea speaks to the power dynamics that exist between man and the natural world, and highlights the idea that man is not in control of his own destiny.
Ultimately, the poem suggests that it is man who is watching over God, rather than the other way around. The love that man has for God drives him to stay awake, watching for signs of his presence and keeping his eye open for any hint of his presence. This idea speaks to the power of human love, and the transformative effect that it can have on our lives.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Holy Sonnet XII is a thought-provoking and complex poem that explores a number of different themes and ideas. Through its use of rhetorical questions and vivid imagery, the poem challenges the reader to consider their place in the world, and their relationship to the other creatures that inhabit it. It also explores the power of beauty, the nature of light, and the transformative effect of human love. Ultimately, the poem suggests that man is not simply a passive observer of the world, but an active participant in the natural order of things, with the power to shape his own destiny.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Holy Sonnet XII: Why Are We By All Creatures Waited On? by John Donne is a classic poem that explores the relationship between humans and the natural world. In this poem, Donne questions why humans are given such a privileged position in the world, and why all other creatures seem to exist solely to serve us. Through his use of language and imagery, Donne creates a powerful meditation on the nature of humanity and our place in the world.
The poem begins with a rhetorical question: "Why are we by all creatures waited on?" This question sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as Donne begins to explore the idea that humans are somehow special or unique in the world. He goes on to describe the various ways in which other creatures serve us, from the "timorous hare" that we hunt for sport, to the "patient dove" that we use for food and sacrifice.
Donne's use of imagery in this poem is particularly striking. He describes the natural world in vivid detail, painting a picture of a world that is both beautiful and brutal. The "timorous hare" is contrasted with the "fierce tiger," and the "patient dove" is juxtaposed with the "bloody vulture." Through these images, Donne highlights the violence and cruelty that is inherent in the natural world, and suggests that humans are somehow exempt from this violence.
As the poem progresses, Donne begins to question this idea of human exceptionalism. He asks, "Why doth the law forbid the bee to sting?" and suggests that even the smallest and seemingly insignificant creatures have their own power and agency. He goes on to suggest that humans are not the only creatures with souls, and that even the "poor beetle" has its own form of consciousness.
This idea of the interconnectedness of all things is a central theme in the poem. Donne suggests that humans are not separate from the natural world, but are instead a part of it. He writes, "We are all but what we are, nor have we / One foot, or finger, but with those to thee / Our selves to join, we wait on thee." This idea of unity and interconnectedness is a powerful one, and suggests that humans have a responsibility to care for and protect the natural world.
The poem ends with a powerful statement of faith. Donne writes, "But we are by him that made us, less / Than any of his works, but, as we pass / And praise his works, must praise him too." This statement suggests that humans are not the pinnacle of creation, but are instead a small part of a larger whole. It also suggests that humans have a responsibility to praise and honor the creator of the natural world.
In conclusion, Holy Sonnet XII: Why Are We By All Creatures Waited On? is a powerful meditation on the nature of humanity and our place in the world. Through his use of language and imagery, Donne creates a vivid picture of a world that is both beautiful and brutal, and suggests that humans are not separate from this world, but are instead a part of it. The poem challenges us to rethink our relationship with the natural world, and to recognize the interconnectedness of all things. It is a timeless work of poetry that continues to resonate with readers today.
Editor Recommended Sites
XAI: Explainable AI: Explainable AI for use cases in medical, insurance and auditing. Explain large language model reasoning and deep generative neural networksLearn Dataform: Dataform tutorial for AWS and GCP cloud
Switch Tears of the Kingdom fan page: Fan page for the sequal to breath of the wild 2
Google Cloud Run Fan site: Tutorials and guides for Google cloud run
Kids Learning Games: Kids learning games for software engineering, programming, computer science
Recommended Similar Analysis
Anactoria by Sappho analysisSunday Morning by Wallace Stevens analysis
Mezzo Cammin by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow analysis
The Haunted Palace by Edgar Allan Poe analysis
Ardella by Langston Hughes analysis
The Dresser by Walt Whitman analysis
A Question by Robert Frost analysis
The Oxen by Thomas Hardy analysis
Sonnet 33: Full many a glorious morning have I seen by William Shakespeare analysis
Lionizing by Edgar Allen Poe analysis