'Elegy II: The Anagram' by John Donne

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Marry, and love thy Flavia, for she
Hath all things whereby others beautious be,
For, though her eyes be small, her mouth is great,
Though they be ivory, yet her teeth be jet,
Though they be dim, yet she is light enough,
And though her harsh hair fall, her skin is rough;
What though her cheeks be yellow, her hair's red;
Give her thine, and she hath a maidenhead.
These things are beauty's elements, where these
Meet in one, that one must, as perfect, please.
If red and white and each good quality
Be in thy wench, ne'er ask where it doth lie.
In buying things perfumed, we ask if there
Be musk and amber in it, but not where.
Though all her parts be not in th' usual place,
She hath yet an anagram of a good face.
If we might put the letters but one way,
In the lean dearth of words, what could we say?
When by the Gamut some Musicians make
A perfect song, others will undertake,
By the same Gamut changed, to equal it.
Things simply good can never be unfit.
She's fair as any, if all be like her,
And if none be, then she is singular.
All love is wonder; if we justly do
Account her wonderful, why not lovely too?
Love built on beauty, soon as beauty, dies;
Choose this face, changed by no deformities.
Women are all like angels; the fair be
Like those which fell to worse; but such as thee,
Like to good angels, nothing can impair:
'Tis less grief to be foul than t' have been fair.
For one night's revels, silk and gold we choose,
But, in long journeys, cloth and leather use.
Beauty is barren oft; best husbands say,
There is best land where there is foulest way.
Oh what a sovereign plaster will she be,
If thy past sins have taught thee jealousy!
Here needs no spies, nor eunuchs; her commit
Safe to thy foes; yea, to a Marmosit.
When Belgia's cities the round countries drown,
That dirty foulness guards, and arms the town:
So doth her face guard her; and so, for thee,
Which, forced by business, absent oft must be,
She, whose face, like clouds, turns the day to night;
Who, mightier than the sea, makes Moors seem white;
Who, though seven years she in the stews had laid,
A Nunnery durst receive, and think a maid;
And though in childbed's labour she did lie,
Midwives would swear 'twere but a tympany;
Whom, if she accuse herself, I credit less
Than witches, which impossibles confess;
Whom dildoes, bedstaves, and her velvet glass
Would be as loath to touch as Joseph was:
One like none, and liked of none, fittest were,
For, things in fashion every man will wear.

Editor 1 Interpretation

#Elegy II: The Anagram by John Donne

John Donne is known for his metaphysical poetry and his use of intricate wordplay. In this elegy, he explores the idea of anagrams and how they can be used to represent deeper meanings. The poem is divided into three parts, each exploring a different aspect of anagrams.

##Part One: The Definition of an Anagram

The first part of the elegy defines what an anagram is and how it works. Donne explains that an anagram is a rearrangement of letters in a word or phrase to create a new word or phrase. He notes that this rearrangement can reveal hidden meanings and connections between words.

Donne’s description of anagrams is simple and straightforward, but it sets the stage for the deeper exploration of the form that follows. He uses anagrams as a metaphor for the way in which poetry can reveal hidden meanings and connections between seemingly disparate ideas.

##Part Two: The Significance of Anagrams

In the second part of the elegy, Donne explores the significance of anagrams. He notes that anagrams can be used to reveal hidden truths and connections between words. He also notes that they can be used to create a sense of mystery and intrigue.

Donne’s exploration of the significance of anagrams is interesting because it reflects his larger philosophical views on the purpose of poetry. He believes that poetry should be used to reveal deeper truths about the human condition and the world around us. Anagrams are just one tool that poets can use to achieve this goal.

##Part Three: The Anagram as a Tribute

In the final part of the elegy, Donne uses anagrams as a tribute to his deceased wife, Anne More. He rearranges the letters of her name to create a new word or phrase that represents her qualities or virtues. For example, he rearranges the letters of her name to create the phrase “A More Honour.”

Donne’s tribute to his wife is both moving and clever. He uses the form of anagrams to create a sense of mystery and intrigue, while also revealing deeper truths about his love for her. The use of anagrams as a tribute also reinforces the idea that poetry can be used to reveal hidden meanings and connections between words.

##Conclusion

In Elegy II: The Anagram, John Donne explores the form of anagrams and their significance in poetry. He uses anagrams as a metaphor for the way in which poetry can reveal hidden meanings and connections between seemingly disparate ideas. He also uses them as a tribute to his deceased wife, Anne More, demonstrating the power of this form to create a sense of mystery and intrigue while also revealing deeper truths about the human condition. Overall, this elegy is a masterful exploration of the form of anagrams and their significance in poetry.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

John Donne's "Elegy II: The Anagram" is a masterful piece of poetry that explores the themes of love, loss, and the power of language. The poem is structured as an anagram, with each line containing the same letters as the title. This clever use of form allows Donne to explore the idea of transformation and the ways in which language can be used to create new meanings.

The poem begins with the speaker lamenting the loss of his beloved. He describes her as "my dear and only love," and expresses his grief at her passing. However, as the poem progresses, the speaker begins to play with language, rearranging the letters of the title to create new words and meanings.

One of the most striking examples of this is in the line "I am gone, though I am here." By rearranging the letters of "The Anagram," Donne is able to create a paradoxical statement that captures the speaker's sense of loss and dislocation. The speaker is physically present, but emotionally he feels as though he has been transformed into something else.

Throughout the poem, Donne uses the anagram as a way of exploring the transformative power of language. He plays with words and meanings, creating new combinations that reveal hidden truths about the speaker's emotions. For example, in the line "A rag, a bone, a hank of hair," Donne uses the anagram to create a list of seemingly disparate objects. However, when read together, these words create a powerful image of the speaker's grief and longing for his lost love.

Another example of this is in the line "Her pure and eloquent blood." By rearranging the letters of "The Anagram," Donne is able to create a phrase that captures the speaker's sense of the purity and beauty of his beloved. The use of the word "eloquent" is particularly striking, as it suggests that the speaker sees his beloved's blood as a form of language that communicates her innermost thoughts and feelings.

Throughout the poem, Donne also explores the idea of transformation through the use of imagery. He describes the speaker's emotions as a "sea of tears," and compares his grief to a "stormy night." These images create a sense of movement and change, suggesting that the speaker's emotions are constantly shifting and evolving.

At the same time, Donne also uses the anagram as a way of exploring the limitations of language. He acknowledges that words can never fully capture the depth of the speaker's emotions, and that there are some things that can only be expressed through silence. This is captured in the line "Silent in earth, and louder none in air," which suggests that the speaker's beloved is now beyond the reach of language.

Overall, "Elegy II: The Anagram" is a powerful and moving poem that explores the themes of love, loss, and the power of language. Through his use of the anagram, Donne is able to create new meanings and reveal hidden truths about the speaker's emotions. At the same time, he also acknowledges the limitations of language, and the ways in which some things can only be expressed through silence.

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