The Canonization

poem by Donne

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Article History

The Canonization, poem by John Donne, written in the 1590s and originally published in 1633 in the first edition of Songs and Sonnets. The poem’s speaker uses religious terms to attempt to prove that his love affair is an elevated bond that approaches saintliness. In the poem, Donne makes able use of paradox, ambiguity, and wordplay.

The five stanzas of the poem—which feature the rhyme scheme of abbacccaa—thematically correspond to the steps of Christian canonization. The speaker begins his defense with the words “For God’s sake hold your tongue, and let me love.” He then proceeds to justify the holiness of his love affair, concluding with the hope that his saintly relationship will become a model for others.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Kathleen Kuiper.