Raderus by John Donne (Poem, Summary, Paraphrase, Analysis & Questions)

 

Raderus

by John Donne

(Poem, Summary, Paraphrase, Analysis & Questions) 

Raderus

Good morrow, dear, why rise you so soon?

The early lark has not yet left his moon;

The cock’s yet mute, and scarce the birds awake,

The flowers not yet have taken their first shake.

 

The sun hath not yet drank the dew away,

Nor chased the vapours which did us betray;

Why should we lose the pleasure of the night,

And rob ourselves of rest and sweet delight?

 

Sleep knits up the ravell’d sleave of care,

And gives fresh life to souls that daily wear;

Rise not too soon, dear, let the morning come,

That we may meet in pleasures yet to come.

 

Summary

The poem "Raderus" is a short lyric in which the speaker addresses a loved one early in the morning. The speaker notices that it is very early — the lark has not yet taken flight from the moon, the cock has not crowed, and the birds have barely awakened. The flowers have not yet shaken off the dew, and the sun has not yet risen fully to dry the morning moisture or disperse the early mist.

The speaker questions why his beloved is waking up so early and urges them not to rise so soon. He suggests that they would be robbing themselves of the pleasure and rest that the night still offers. The speaker emphasizes that sleep is valuable because it heals and refreshes the body and soul, which become weary from daily cares and labors.

He encourages his beloved to enjoy the remaining rest until morning truly arrives, so they can later meet and enjoy the day together with renewed energy and pleasure.

 

Line-by-line Paraphrase

Good morrow, dear, why rise you so soon?

Good morning, my love, why are you getting up so early?

 

The early lark has not yet left his moon;

The morning lark hasn’t even flown away from the moon yet.

 

The cock’s yet mute, and scarce the birds awake,

The rooster hasn’t crowed, and hardly any birds have woken up.

 

The flowers not yet have taken their first shake.

Even the flowers haven’t yet shaken off the night’s dew.

 

The sun hath not yet drank the dew away,

The sun hasn’t yet dried up the dew on the ground.

 

Nor chased the vapours which did us betray;

Nor has it chased away the early morning fog that fooled us.

 

Why should we lose the pleasure of the night,

Why should we miss out on the joy and rest of the night?

 

And rob ourselves of rest and sweet delight?

Why should we steal away our own sleep and peaceful happiness?

 

Sleep knits up the ravell’d sleave of care,

Sleep repairs and restores the tangled troubles of the mind,

 

And gives fresh life to souls that daily wear;

And gives new strength to souls worn out by daily struggles.

 

Rise not too soon, dear, let the morning come,

Don’t get up too early, my dear, let the true morning arrive,

 

That we may meet in pleasures yet to come.

So that we can enjoy the pleasures that the day will bring.

 

Analysis in Detail

"Raderus" is a tender and intimate morning poem in which the speaker gently chides his beloved for waking up too early. The poem captures the quiet beauty and stillness of the early dawn, using vivid natural imagery to emphasize how peaceful and unspoiled the world remains before sunrise.

At the start, the speaker draws attention to various signs of the very early morning: the lark is still near the moon, the rooster has not crowed, birds are barely awake, and the flowers have yet to shake off the dew. These images serve to highlight the calm and softness of the pre-dawn time, a moment still suspended between night and day.

The speaker wonders why his beloved would want to rise so soon, suggesting that by doing so, she is missing out on the lingering pleasures of night. This is not simply about physical rest but also about savoring a special, intimate time that night offers — a time for peace, reflection, and closeness.

The poem presents sleep as restorative and necessary. The line “Sleep knits up the ravell’d sleave of care” personifies sleep as a weaver who repairs the tangled and worn fabric of worry and trouble. This metaphor implies that sleep is a healer of both mind and body, giving “fresh life” to souls exhausted by the daily grind.

By urging his beloved to delay rising until “the morning come,” the speaker expresses a desire to extend their shared moments of tranquility and affection. It’s a gentle persuasion to cherish the calm and the intimacy before the demands of the day intrude.

Overall, "Raderus" reflects themes of love, rest, and the natural rhythms of time. It blends tender affection with a subtle celebration of nature’s quiet moments. The poem’s tone is soothing and intimate, evoking a shared experience between the speaker and his beloved against the backdrop of the early morning world.

The poem’s gentle rhythm and simple structure complement its content by creating a calm, almost lullaby-like effect. This helps the reader feel the peacefulness the speaker is trying to preserve for himself and his beloved.

In conclusion, "Raderus" is a delicate meditation on the beauty of dawn, the importance of rest, and the value of shared time with a loved one. It invites the reader to pause and appreciate the stillness before the day begins, reminding us that sometimes the best moments are those found in quiet togetherness and gentle persuasion.

 

Possible Exam Questions

What time of day is described in the poem Raderus?

 

Why does the speaker ask his beloved not to rise early?

 

What natural elements does Donne mention to show that it is still early morning?

 

Explain the meaning of the phrase “Sleep knits up the ravell’d sleave of care.”

 

How does the poem convey the value of rest?

 

Discuss how John Donne uses imagery in Raderus to describe the early morning.

 

Analyze the tone of the poem Raderus and how it reflects the speaker’s feelings toward his beloved.

 

How does Raderus explore the relationship between rest and renewal?

 

In what ways does Raderus blend themes of nature and love? Illustrate your answer with examples from the poem.

 

Examine the metaphor of sleep in Raderus and discuss its significance in the poem’s overall meaning.

 

If you were to modernize the message of Raderus, how would you explain the importance of rest and timing in today’s fast-paced world?

 

Compare the depiction of dawn in Raderus with another poem that describes morning or nature. What similarities or differences do you find?

 

How might the poem Raderus be interpreted as a commentary on human rhythms and the natural order?