John Donne, “Annunciation” [Poetry for Advent]

I’ve enjoyed posting poetry series themed around the Christian year in recent years (see “Poetry for Lent,” “Poetry for Easter,“ and “Poetry for Ordinary Time“). I will continue that theme at this time of year with a series called “Poetry for Advent.” Advent explores both the first advent of Christ in the past, which we celebrate in His incarnation, and the second advent of Christ in the future, which we anticipate at his parousia.

I begin this series of Advent poetry with “Annunciation” by John Donne. John Donne (1571/2-1631) was a poet in 16th and 17th-century England who eventually became a priest in the Anglican Church and dean of St. Paul’s Cathedral. Donne is often considered the chief example of English metaphysical poetry.

Salvation to all that will is nigh;
That All, which always is all everywhere,
Which cannot sin, and yet all sins must bear,
Which cannot die, yet cannot choose but die,
Lo, faithful virgin, yields Himself to lie
In prison, in thy womb; and though He there
Can take no sin, nor thou give, yet He will wear,
Taken from thence, flesh, which death’s force may try.
Ere by the spheres time was created, thou
Wast in His mind, who is thy Son and Brother;
Whom thou conceivst, conceived; yea thou art now
Thy Maker’s maker, and thy Father’s mother;
Thou hast light in dark, and shutst in little room,
Immensity cloistered in thy dear womb.