Holy Sonnet III "O might those sighs and tears return again" by John Donne (Poem, Summary, Paraphrase, Analysis & Questions)

 

Holy Sonnet III "O might those sighs and tears return again"

by John Donne

(Poem, Summary, Paraphrase, Analysis & Questions) 

O might those sighs and tears return again

O might those sighs and tears return again

Into my breast and eyes, which I have spent,

That I might in this holy discontent

Mourn with some fruit, as I have mourn’d in vain;

In mine Idolatry what showers of rain

Mine eyes did waste! what griefs my heart did rent!

That sufferance was my sin; now I repent;

'Cause I did suffer I must suffer pain.

Th’ hydroptique drunkard, and night-scouting thief,

The itchy lecher, and self-tickling proud

Have th’ remembrance of past joys, for relief

Of comming ills. To (poor) me is allow’d

No ease; for long, yet vehement grief hath been

Th’ effect and cause, the punishment and sin.

 

Summary

The speaker begins by wishing that the sighs and tears he had once shed could return to him. He regrets that those earlier expressions of sorrow were wasted or ineffective. Now, he desires to feel a "holy discontent"—a sorrow for sin that is spiritually meaningful and leads to redemption—unlike his earlier grief, which brought no spiritual benefit.

He recalls a time in his life when he was engaged in idolatry, meaning he was devoted to worldly things instead of God. During that period, he wept greatly and felt intense grief. However, these emotions were not directed toward repentance or God, so they were wasted. He now recognizes that the pain he felt then was actually sinful because it stemmed from misguided desires.

The speaker repents not only for the sins he committed but also for the way he suffered wrongly—his sorrow was misplaced. Now, because he suffered sinfully in the past, he believes he must endure more suffering as punishment.

He compares himself with various types of sinners: the hydropic drunkard (a person whose thirst is never quenched), the night-scouting thief, the itchy lecher (a lustful person), and the self-tickling proud (someone self-satisfied in their pride). These people at least have memories of their past pleasures to comfort them when facing future suffering.

But for the speaker, no such comfort exists. He finds no ease or relief in remembering his past, because his grief has been both the result and the cause of his sin—it is intertwined with his wrongdoing. Thus, his long and intense sorrow serves as both his punishment and his sin.

 

Line-by-line Paraphrase

1. O might those sighs and tears return again

I wish I could feel those same deep sighs and tears once more.

 

2. Into my breast and eyes, which I have spent,

I used to cry and feel emotional, but now that intensity is gone.

 

3. That I might in this holy discontent

I wish I could feel that same sorrow now—but in a way that’s holy and directed toward God.

 

4. Mourn with some fruit, as I have mourn’d in vain;

So that my sorrow would now produce spiritual results, unlike before, when it led to nothing.

 

5. In mine Idolatry what showers of rain

When I was focused on worldly things (my idolatry), I cried so much—like a rainstorm.

 

6. Mine eyes did waste! what griefs my heart did rent!

My eyes shed many tears, and my heart felt torn with grief.

 

7. That sufferance was my sin; now I repent;

That kind of suffering was sinful—so now I regret it and repent.

 

8. 'Cause I did suffer I must suffer pain.

Because I suffered wrongly in the past, I now must suffer real pain as punishment.

 

9. Th’ hydroptique drunkard, and night-scouting thief,

The man who drinks endlessly (because of dropsy) and the thief who sneaks around at night—

 

10. The itchy lecher, and self-tickling proud

The lustful person and the one proud of himself—

 

11. Have th’ remembrance of past joys, for relief

All of them can at least remember the pleasures they once had, to comfort them now.

 

12. Of comming ills. To (poor) me is allow’d

They can use those memories to bear upcoming troubles. But I, poor me, have no such relief.

 

13. No ease; for long, yet vehement grief hath been

I have no comfort, because I’ve been grieving intensely for a long time.

 

14. Th’ effect and cause, the punishment and sin.

My grief is both the result and the reason for my sin—it is both my punishment and my wrongdoing.

 

Analysis in Detail

John Donne’s Holy Sonnet III is a deeply introspective and emotional reflection on the nature of sin, repentance, and spiritual sorrow. The speaker—likely representing Donne himself—explores the idea that even his past sorrow was flawed because it was not directed toward God. This sonnet belongs to the tradition of metaphysical poetry, blending intense emotion with intellectual reasoning and religious themes.

Repentance and Misguided Emotion

The poem begins with a longing: the speaker wishes he could experience again the sighs and tears he once shed. However, he wants those emotions to return not for the same reasons as before, but now to be transformed into "holy discontent"—a genuine, godly sorrow for sin. This shows that his earlier sorrow was perhaps over lost pleasures, worldly attachments, or self-centered grief, not true repentance. He realizes that his earlier mourning was “in vain”—fruitless and unspiritual.

Idolatry and Misplaced Devotion

In the middle section, Donne reflects on his “idolatry,” a strong term that in Christian theology refers to worshiping something other than God. He admits that in the past, his emotions were deeply invested in worldly things. His eyes "wasted" many tears, and his heart was “rent” (torn) with sorrow—but for the wrong reasons. Here, Donne reveals the depth of his regret. It wasn’t just that he sinned; it’s that even his emotional response to sin was flawed. He suffered in ways that were not redemptive but sinful themselves.

This introduces a fascinating paradox: suffering itself becomes sinful if it's for the wrong reasons. And now, he feels he must endure real suffering as punishment, not just for his actions, but for how he responded to them emotionally.

The Irony of Memory and Comfort

Donne then compares himself to various types of sinners: the hydropic drunkard (someone with dropsy who drinks excessively but never feels satisfied), the night-time thief, the lustful man, and the proud person who pleases himself with his own vanity. These sinners, despite their moral failings, at least have the comfort of pleasurable memories to look back on. Their sins brought them some fleeting joy in the past, and they can now draw a bit of relief from those recollections.

But the speaker feels even more deprived. His own past contains no such relief—only painful, misguided sorrow. He cannot draw comfort from his memories because they represent both sin and punishment to him.

Grief as Both Cause and Effect

The final couplet is powerful: his grief has been both the cause and effect of his sin. That is, he sinned, felt deep grief—but because that grief was misdirected, it became sinful itself, leading to more guilt. This cycle of sin and sorrow becomes self-reinforcing. His punishment is not just physical or external; it is spiritual, emotional, and inward—his grief is his sin, and his sin leads to more grief.

Spiritual Intensity and Metaphysical Conflict

The sonnet is deeply metaphysical in tone, with intense inner conflict. Donne is not just wrestling with guilt but with the quality and purpose of his emotions. He’s asking: What does it mean to truly repent? What kind of sorrow pleases God? Can one suffer in a way that is itself sinful? The poem suggests that even spiritual feelings must be properly directed—otherwise, they risk becoming just another form of sin.

 

Conclusion

In Holy Sonnet III, Donne presents a profound and painful self-examination. He reflects on a past filled with misguided sorrow and seeks a more authentic, God-focused grief. He contrasts worldly sin with spiritual repentance, and shows how even the soul's pain must be purified by divine intention. The poem is a cry for transformation—not only of the heart but of the very emotions and memories that live within it.

 

Possible Exam Questions

What is the central theme of Holy Sonnet III?

 

Why does the speaker wish for his sighs and tears to return?

 

What does Donne mean by “idolatry” in the poem?

 

Who are the four types of sinners mentioned in the sonnet?

 

How does Donne describe his past mourning in the poem?

 

What paradox does the speaker present in the final couplet?

 

Explain the significance of the phrase “holy discontent” in the poem.

 

What kind of suffering does the speaker regret, and why?

 

Discuss the irony in the comparison between the speaker and other sinners.

 

What does the poem suggest about the nature of true repentance?

 

How does John Donne use the concept of memory in the poem?

 

Analyze the spiritual journey of the speaker in Holy Sonnet III.

 

How does Donne use metaphysical elements to explore inner conflict in the poem?

 

Examine how Donne treats the relationship between sin, sorrow, and repentance.

 

Discuss the use of contrast and paradox in the poem to highlight the speaker’s inner turmoil.

 

Holy Sonnet III presents grief as both a sin and a punishment. Discuss with reference to the poem.

 

Give a critical appreciation of Holy Sonnet III with reference to its themes and poetic devices.

 

How does Donne use personal experience to convey a universal religious truth in this poem?

 

What metaphysical features can you identify in Holy Sonnet III, and how do they contribute to its meaning?