The Baite

John Donne

1572 to 1631

Poem Image
Track 1

Reconstruct the poem by dragging each line into its correct position. You can also use the up (↑) and down (↓) arrows to move a line one place at a time, or the top (⇑) and bottom (⇓) arrows to move a line directly to the top or bottom. Your goal is to reassemble the original poem as accurately as possible. As you move the lines, you'll see whether your arrangement is correct, helping you explore the poem's flow and meaning. You can also print out the jumbled poem to cut up and reassemble in the classroom. Either way, take your time, enjoy the process, and discover how the poet's words come together to create something truly beautiful.

Easy Mode - Auto check enabled
For thou thy selfe art thine owne bait;
By Sunne, or Moone, thou darknest both,
The bedded fish in banks out-wrest,
Of golden sands, and christall brookes,
Let others freeze with angling reeds,
And wee will some new pleasures prove
With silken lines, and silver hookes.
Warm'd by thy eyes, more then the Sunne.
Come live with mee, and bee my love,
For thee, thou needst no such deceit,
And there the'inamor'd fish will stay,
Each fish, which every channell hath,
If thou, to be so seene, beest loath,
And cut their legges, with shells and weeds,
With strangling snare, or windowie net:
And if my selfe have leave to see,
Will amorously to thee swimme,
There will the river whispering runne
Or treacherously poore fish beset,
Gladder to catch thee, then thou him.
Or curious traitors, sleavesilke flies
Bewitch poore fishes wandring eyes.
Begging themselves they may betray.
When thou wilt swimme in that live bath,
Alas, is wiser farre then I.
That fish, that is not catch'd thereby,
Let coarse bold hands, from slimy nest
I need not their light, having thee.

πŸŽ‰ Congratulations! πŸŽ‰

You've successfully reconstructed the poem! Your understanding of poetry and attention to detail is impressive.