A VALEDICTION: FORBIDDING MOURNING

BY JOHN DONNE

A valediction is a poem about the separation of two lovers. The poet asks his lover not to cry for him. A valediction refers to a forbidden thing. Something his lover is not allowed to do. A valediction is a farewell message.

The poet uses striking similes and unusual metaphor through his metaphysical style. First of all the poet explains how virtuous men die. The parting of the two lovers like Donne and his  wife is linked to the death of the virtuous man. In line 6 the poet writes "No food of tears, no tempests of sighs" , the poet uses an exaggeration , an hyperbole. They separe but they shouldn't cry. To cry would be a profanation of their love, they separate only physically. The strenght of their love which is the union of their souls, cannot be broken.

The lovers are linkened to planetary bodies and to the two legs of a compass, at first this comparison seems ridiculous, but Donne shows how it makes sense. They can be pulled far a part but never be separated. They draw a circle, simble of perfect unity; the circle corresponds besides either to the ring with the signs of the zodiac or to the marriage ring.

I believe that this poem is about love and the eternity of love, the man is telling hid loved one that even though he is departing, he will still be with her, their souls will be together and never separate.