“Sweetest Love I Do Not Go” analysis shows that it is from the collection of “Love Poems” of John Donne. In this poem, he is addressing to his wife Anne Moore. The theme of the Poem is parting; therefore, the poet consoles his wife. Poet was departing for Europe in 1611. This poem is an expression of those feelings, which he has experienced when he wen away from his wife. Donne was gravely in love with her. It seems that she is unable to differentiate between parting and death. Death is also a kind of parting from near and dear ones; therefore, the situation of departing is also not different from death. However, the poet consoles his wife while saying that she should not become tearful and should face this situation. Click to read the actual poem on
Stanza-I Analysis of “Sweetest Love I Do Not Go”:
Departure is always tearful and fearful. John Donne, in this poem, explains the reason of departure to his wife. He says that he is not going away because his love and feelings for his wife are expired; it is not the case that he is fed up from her company nor he is leaving her because he has found another girl but because parting is the law of nature. The poet refers death here. No matter how long two lovers love each other in this world; ultimately, they have to die. Death would end their love. So, the poet sees death as another kind of separation. Like other poems of John Donne, this poem too is the expression of emotions from the very beginning. Analysis of the first stanza clears the readers that “Sweetest Love I Do Not Go” is a dramatic monologue and the poet is trying to instruct his beloved.
This poem depicts the theme of death along with the theme of parting. He asks his beloved to get used to parting because eventually, death would separate them. If they get used to parting then death would not do any harm. Hence, in future when the death would approach John Donne, it would not cause such great pain and suffering.
Stanza-II Analysis:
The poet gives arguments after arguments to support his opinion. As usual, he gives an example of the sun. The sun has no feelings yet it returns in a day. If the sun can return then the poet can also return from his journey in a day or two. The poet has feelings for his beloved. He is not emotionless but full of sentiments and love. He will return sooner than sun. His return will be so sooner that his beloved will never realize that Donne has gone away from her.
Deep stanza-II analysis of “Sweetest Love I Do Not Go” points out that Donne’s exemplification is praiseworthy and his technique of explaining things is extraordinary. Readers can witness wit of the poet. Donne’s thinking is developing with every line of the poem. It is not only pure love due to which Donne is famous but his clear manifestation of feelings makes him famous. Moreover, his method of explaining things with simplicity makes his love poems more and more subtle.
Stanza-III Analysis of “Sweetest Love I Do Not Go”:
Donne is against the nature of men. If happiness knocks their door, they instead of becoming happy, fear from future threats. We know that happiness is occasional episode in general drama of pain yet we must enjoy that episode. Moreover, in happy days, men forget everything and do not share it with anyone but in the worst days of life, they display their grief and share their sorrows with everyone. Donne does not like these double standards. He wants that men should enjoy whatever enjoyment is possible.
Stanza-IV Analysis of “Sweetest Love I Do Not Go”:
The poet makes his relationship with her lover lucid and simple. He says that when she inhales oxygen, she actually grasps his soul. Her tears are not only tears but the blood of the poet. In simplistic terms, the poet wants to clear everything to his beloved. He is deeply in love with her; therefore, every pain of his beloved is the pain of the poet. If she loves the poet, the poet will become happy; if she becomes sad, the poet would become sadder than she would. In short, the poet wants to demonstrate his feelings of love. If his beloved lives, he lives; if she dies the poet dies.
Hence, Donne is advising her: do not worry, do not weep, do not cry and do not have fear of any kind, as she is the best part of the poet. It seems that the poet has exaggerated his love yet he sticks to reality. Readers believe him and appreciate his way of presentation of emotions.
Stanza-V Analysis of “Sweetest Love I Do Not Go”:
When a person goes away from his near and dear ones, some unknown fears threaten their minds. Pessimistic predictions sadden them, due to which they become tearful. The poet knows that his beloved is thinking negatively. Maybe she is thinking that the poet would not return or the poet would leave her forever. When a person overthinks, he becomes fearful. Overthinking overwhelms the positivity and makes a person depress. The poet advises her to stop overthinking. She should keep in mind that their love is everlasting. They cannot live separate. The poet asks her to think in a way that they are saying goodnight to each other. In the morning, they will meet and will enjoy their own company.
Technical Analysis:
If technical analysis of “Sweetest Love I Do Not Go” is done, then the whole poem is simple and lucid. It is self-explanatory. Unlike other poems of John Donne, this poem has sweet music of its own. The poet uses no far fetched metaphor or simile. It actually is a song. John Donne intellectually states his emotions in every poem. In some poems, he uses fanciful allusions but this poem is exceptional. Moreover, there is no complexity in the poem. In short, every line and each stanza of the poem justify the title “Sweetest Love I Do Not Go”.
