The Paradox
John Donne
1572 to 1631
Track 1
Reconstruct the poem by dragging each line into its correct position. 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.
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I cannot say I lov'd, for who can say
Can judge a perfect Lover;
Wee dye but once, and who lov'd last did die,
Once I lov'd and dy'd; and am now become
Love-slaine, loe, here I lye.
Such life is like the light which bideth yet
It doth the sense beguile.
Leaves behinde, two houres after.
Hee that saith twice, doth lye:
When the lights life is set,
Death kills with too much cold;
Love with excesse of heat, more yong then old,
Or like the heat, which fire in solid matter
Mine Epitaph and Tombe.
That any loves but hee:
Hee thinkes that else none can, nor will agree
Here dead men speake their last, and so do I;
Hee was kill'd yesterday?
For though hee seeme to move, and stirre a while,
No Lover saith, I love, nor any other