John Donne (1572-1631) was the foremost of the metaphysical poets and is one of the most famous and well-regarded poets of the English language.

This week, in honor of Valentine’s Day, I read his timeless classic “The Ecstasy”, in which he recounts his profound metaphysical visions while lying beside a riverbank with his beloved.

In my analysis I share who I think his beloved might be, and how this poem ties to the tragic story of his life.

This is a poem I have a personal history with and is definitely one for the lovers.

It’s also an ambitious piece and is an episode I’m very proud of. I sincerely hope you enjoy.

To read “The Ecstasy” online, click here

To learn more about John Donne, click here

To learn about Christian Wiman, click here

To order Christian Wiman’s book “The Long Home”, click here

To order the current edition of The Norton Anthology of Poetry, click here

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