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

 

The Blossom

by John Donne

(Poem, Summary, Paraphrase, Analysis & Questions) 

The Blossom

Little think’st thou, poor flower,

Whom I’ve watch’d six or seven days,

And seen thy birth, and seen what every hour

Gave to thy growth, thee to this height to raise,

And now dost laugh and triumph on this bough,

Little think’st thou,

That it will freeze anon, and that I shall

To-morrow find thee fallen, or not at all.

 

Little think’st thou, poor heart,

That labourest yet to nestle thee,

And think’st by hovering here to get a part

In a forbidden or forbidding tree,

And hopest her stiffness by long siege to bow,

Little think’st thou

That thou to-morrow, ere that sun doth wake,

Must with this sun and me a journey take.

 

But thou which lov’st to be

Subtle to plague thyself, wilt say,

Alas! if you must go, what’s that to me?

Here lies my business, and here I will stay.

You go to friends, whose love and means present

Various content

To your eyes, ears, and taste, and every part;

If then your body go, what need your heart?

 

Well then, stay here; but know,

When thou hast stay’d and done thy most,

A naked thinking heart that makes no show

Is to a woman but a kind of ghost.

How shall she know my heart; or having none,

Know thee for one?

Practice may make her know some other part,

But take my word, she doth not know a heart.

 

Meet me at London, then,

Twenty days hence, and thou shalt see

Me fresher, and more fat, by being with men,

Than if I had stayed still with her and thee.

For God’s sake, if you can, be you so too;

I will give you

There to another friend, whom we shall find

As glad to have my body as my mind.

 

Summary

Stanza 1:

The speaker addresses a blossom (a flower) he has been observing for several days. He has witnessed its growth from birth, how each passing hour contributed to its development, and how it has now blossomed fully, looking joyful and triumphant. However, the speaker warns the flower that it does not know its fate: soon the weather will freeze, and by the next day, the flower may fall from the tree or may not be found at all.

 

Stanza 2:

Now the speaker addresses his own heart, comparing it to the blossom. The heart is trying to settle itself in a woman’s love, represented by a forbidden or unwelcoming tree. It hopes that continued efforts will soften her resistance. But the speaker warns the heart too: like the blossom, it will also have to leave soon and travel with the speaker when he departs in the morning.

 

Stanza 3:

The speaker imagines how his heart might protest and say: “If you are leaving, what concern is that of mine? My business is with this woman, and I will remain here.” The heart might argue that the speaker is going to people who can give him pleasure and company, so his heart should be allowed to stay behind with the woman.

 

Stanza 4:

The speaker responds, saying if the heart insists on staying, it should know that a silent, invisible heart is like a ghost to a woman. If the speaker’s body is gone, how will the woman even recognize or respond to the heart? Even if she recognizes other parts of a man (such as appearance or behavior), she cannot truly know the heart without the person present.

 

Stanza 5:

Finally, the speaker tells the heart to meet him in London twenty days later. He promises that by then, he will be happier and healthier, having spent time with other men (friends). He urges the heart to do the same—recover and move on. When they meet again, he says he will entrust the heart to another friend who will be glad to receive both his mind and body—unlike the woman they are leaving behind.

 

Line-by-line Paraphrase

Stanza 1

Little think’st thou, poor flower,

You don’t realize, little flower,

 

Whom I’ve watch’d six or seven days,

I’ve been observing you for the past six or seven days,

 

And seen thy birth, and seen what every hour

I saw you bloom and noticed how each hour

 

Gave to thy growth, thee to this height to raise,

Helped you grow until you reached this full size,

 

And now dost laugh and triumph on this bough,

And now you appear joyful and proud, sitting on this branch,

 

Little think’st thou,

But you don’t know,

 

That it will freeze anon, and that I shall

That very soon it will freeze, and I

 

To-morrow find thee fallen, or not at all.

Might find you fallen by tomorrow, or you may vanish entirely.

 

Stanza 2

Little think’st thou, poor heart,

You also don’t realize, my poor heart,

 

That labourest yet to nestle thee,

You’re still working hard to settle yourself in love,

 

And think’st by hovering here to get a part

And you think staying close to this woman will help you

 

In a forbidden or forbidding tree,

Win her over, even though she is either off-limits or cold-hearted,

 

And hopest her stiffness by long siege to bow,

And you hope that with enough time and persistence, her resistance will break,

 

Little think’st thou

But you don’t know

 

That thou to-morrow, ere that sun doth wake,

That tomorrow morning, before the sun rises,

 

Must with this sun and me a journey take.

You must leave with me and the rising sun on a journey.

 

Stanza 3

But thou which lov’st to be

But you (heart), who enjoy being

 

Subtle to plague thyself, wilt say,

Clever in torturing yourself, will argue:

 

Alas! if you must go, what’s that to me?

“Oh no! If you’re leaving, why should I care?”

 

Here lies my business, and here I will stay.

“My love is here, and I will remain here with her.”

 

You go to friends, whose love and means present

“You’re going to friends who can offer love, comfort, and wealth,

 

Various content

Many kinds of pleasures

 

To your eyes, ears, and taste, and every part;

To your senses—sight, hearing, taste, and more;

 

If then your body go, what need your heart?

If your body is leaving, what need is there to take your heart too?”

 

Stanza 4

Well then, stay here; but know,

Fine—stay here, then. But remember this:

 

When thou hast stay’d and done thy most,

Even after you’ve stayed and tried your best,

 

A naked thinking heart that makes no show

A heart full of thoughts and feelings, but invisible to others,

 

Is to a woman but a kind of ghost.

Is like a ghost to a woman—it doesn’t mean anything to her.

 

How shall she know my heart; or having none,

How can she know my heart? Or if I’m gone,

 

Know thee for one?

How can she even know you (my heart) exist?

 

Practice may make her know some other part,

She might become familiar with other visible parts of me,

 

But take my word, she doth not know a heart.

But believe me, she doesn’t truly know or value the heart.

 

Stanza 5

Meet me at London, then,

So meet me in London,

 

Twenty days hence, and thou shalt see

Twenty days from now, and you’ll see

 

Me fresher, and more fat, by being with men,

That I’m happier and healthier just by being with other people (friends),

 

Than if I had stayed still with her and thee.

More than I would have been if I had stayed here with you and her.

 

For God’s sake, if you can, be you so too;

For heaven’s sake, try to feel the same way,

 

I will give you

Because I’ll entrust you (my heart)

 

There to another friend, whom we shall find

To another friend we’ll meet there,

 

As glad to have my body as my mind.

Who will be happy to have both my body and my mind—unlike the woman we’re leaving.

 

Analysis in Detail

Poetic Voice and Address:

John Donne employs a dramatic monologue style in this poem, where the speaker addresses two symbolic entities — first, a blossoming flower, and second, his own heart. Both are treated as living, conscious beings. This personification allows Donne to externalize his inner conflict, turning abstract feelings (like desire, love, disappointment) into a kind of dialogue between parts of himself and nature.

 

Themes:

The dominant theme is emotional detachment and the transience of romantic affection. The speaker has loved a woman deeply, but now realizes it is time to part ways. However, his heart still clings to her. The blossom becomes a metaphor for this emotional state — it represents something beautiful but short-lived, much like fleeting romantic passion. The poem explores the struggle between reason and emotion, between knowing one must move on and still feeling bound to someone.

A related theme is the futility of unreciprocated or cold love. The woman, described as a forbidden or forbidding tree, is unresponsive, yet the speaker’s heart keeps hoping to "nestle" there. The speaker eventually concludes that such silent, invisible affection is meaningless to the woman: a “naked thinking heart” is but a ghost.

 

Tone and Mood:

The tone shifts throughout the poem — it begins with gentle sadness and observation, becomes ironic and conflicted, and ends in resignation and self-reassurance. The speaker seems both introspective and wry, speaking candidly about love's disappointments while maintaining a certain clever detachment. At times, there's a sense of frustration with the heart’s stubbornness, but also a melancholy wisdom in accepting change.

 

Imagery and Symbols:

The Blossom/Flower: A symbol of beauty and fragility, it stands for the speaker's emotional state or his beloved — something that has bloomed but is destined to wither soon.

The Heart: The center of emotional resistance. It is portrayed as a stubborn, naive companion who refuses to accept reality.

The Tree: The woman is compared to a forbidden or unwelcoming tree, echoing biblical and mythic overtones — a source of desire that denies access or intimacy.

The Ghost: The heart without a body is like a ghost — present, but unrecognized. This suggests that love without mutual physical and emotional connection is meaningless.

 

Structure and Form:

The poem consists of five stanzas of eight lines each. The rhyme and meter are not strictly uniform but exhibit Donne’s characteristic wit and flexibility. The argument in the poem unfolds logically, each stanza building upon the previous one, reflecting a journey of emotional reasoning — from hope and attachment to acceptance and release.

Philosophical and Psychological Insight:

Donne, often associated with the Metaphysical poets, uses clever conceits — extended metaphors — to explore the complexity of human emotion. In “The Blossom,” he provides a psychological portrait of a man negotiating with his own feelings. The internal debate between the speaker and his heart is not just personal but universal: many readers can relate to the struggle of leaving behind a relationship that the mind knows is over, but the heart still clings to.

The final lines, where the speaker hopes to be “fresher and more fat” with friends, can be read both humorously and seriously. It reflects a shift from romantic idealism to practical contentment, where companionship and self-care are valued over unreturned longing.

 

Conclusion:

John Donne’s “The Blossom” is a deeply reflective poem that captures the bittersweet moment of emotional detachment. Through rich metaphors, personified emotions, and a conversational tone, Donne brings to life the internal conflict of reason vs. love. The poem reveals the ephemeral nature of passion, the pain of parting, and ultimately the hope of renewal — even if that renewal comes not from romance but from rational friendship and self-recovery.

 

Possible Exam Questions     

Who is the speaker addressing in the poem "The Blossom"?

 

What does the blossom symbolize in the poem?

 

How is the woman described metaphorically in the poem?

 

What warning does the speaker give to the flower in the first stanza?

 

Why does the speaker compare the heart to a ghost?

 

What does the speaker plan to do twenty days later?

 

What is meant by “a naked thinking heart”?

 

Explain the phrase “forbidden or forbidding tree.”

 

Describe the internal conflict faced by the speaker in "The Blossom".

 

How does Donne use imagery to convey emotional struggle in the poem?

 

Briefly explain the significance of the journey mentioned in the poem.

 

In what way does the speaker's tone shift throughout the poem?

 

How does Donne use personification in the poem? Give examples.

 

Discuss the central theme of love and detachment in "The Blossom". How does the poet convey this theme through symbols and metaphors?

 

Examine the speaker’s relationship with his heart in "The Blossom". How does this reflect the larger emotional and philosophical concerns of the poem?

 

How does Donne present the tension between reason and emotion in "The Blossom"? Illustrate your answer with close reference to the text.

 

Explore how "The Blossom" fits within the characteristics of Metaphysical poetry. Focus on the use of conceit, wit, and argument.

 

Compare the roles of the blossom and the heart in the poem. What does each represent, and how does Donne contrast them?

 

“A naked thinking heart that makes no show

Is to a woman but a kind of ghost.”

– Explain this line in context. What is the speaker trying to convey?

 

“Little think’st thou, poor heart…”

– Why does the speaker pity the heart? What lesson is he trying to impart?

 

“Meet me at London, then,

Twenty days hence…”

– What does this plan reveal about the speaker’s state of mind?