Holy Sonnet IV: Oh My Black Soul! Now Art Thou Summoned by John Donne
By John Donne
Oh my black soul! now art thou summoned By sickness, death's herald, and champion; Thou art like a pilgrim, which abroad hath done Treason, and durst not turn to whence he is fled; Or like a thief, which till death's doom be read, Wisheth himself delivered from prison, But damned and haled to execution, Wisheth that still he might be imprisoned. Yet grace, if thou repent, thou canst not lack; But who shall give thee that grace to begin? Oh make thy self with holy mourning black, And red with blushing, as thou art with sin;
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"Oh my black soul! now art thou summoned..."
"Holy Sonnet IV: Oh My Black Soul! Now Art Thou Summoned" by John Donne is a sad and spiritual english poem consisting of 14 lines. This English poem by John Donne demonstrates the timeless power of verse to capture complex human emotions. Beginning with "Oh my black soul! now art thou summoned By sickness, death's herald, and champion;...", this piece explores themes of sad and spiritual through vivid imagery and emotional resonance. The work invites contemplation on the deeper currents of life, love, and the human condition. John Donne's celebrated body of poetry continues to inspire readers across generations and cultures, and this particular work stands as a powerful example of their artistic vision.