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

 

The Expostulation

by John Donne

(Poem, Summary, Paraphrase, Analysis & Questions) 

The Expostulation

MY God, my God, why hast Thou parted so

With me, or with Thyself, that I do go

Still wandering in this leprous wilderness,

Where all things stink, and none is cleanly? O

Throw not that soul away that thinks Thee so!

Wilt Thou meet arms with man, that Thou dost stretch

A crumpled hand to all that will come in?

Thy power is infinite; Thy love is such

That who e’er longs for Thee, cannot despise

Thou neither to Thyself art true, nor me,

But to Him that made this soul, Thou gav’st this soul,

And Thou art jealous lest this soul should be

Another’s, not Thine own, and I think Thee

Enthralled to Thy love, and though Thou grieve

At my neglect, Thou dost not leave me so.

 

Thou didst restore me to my sight, and when

I had said to my soul, “Thy Lord is come,”

He fled, and I went on, and sat me down,

For though I saw Him, I did not run to Him.

And when I lay upon a dying bed,

I heard Thy voice and stood up, and was whole.

But I forgot Thee, and sat down again,

And did refuse Thy second proffered grace.

 

Yet do I find Thee every where, O Lord;

Thy creatures beckon me to come to Thee,

And all the paths do lead me to Thy love.

If I do lose Thee in my love of them,

Thou dost not lose them in Thy love of me.

Thou art the end of all; for what confers

Man with the sun, and stars, and birds, and trees,

But that he may find some expression there

To send his soul in a song up to Thee?

 

Summary

Stanza 1 Summary:

John Donne begins by addressing God directly, asking why God has withdrawn or distanced Himself. Donne feels lost in a corrupt and sinful world—a "leprous wilderness" where nothing is pure or clean. He pleads with God not to abandon his soul, which still believes in Him. He acknowledges God's infinite power and generous love, which accepts all who approach sincerely. Donne reminds God that He created his soul and is possessive of it, jealous that it not belong to another. He believes God still loves him despite his sins and has not completely deserted him.

 

Stanza 2 Summary:

Donne recalls times in his life when God helped or healed him spiritually. At one point, God restored his spiritual “sight,” and Donne recognized God’s presence. However, instead of running toward God, he let that moment pass. Later, when he was near death, Donne again heard God’s voice, was revived, and made whole. Yet, once more, he failed to remain faithful. He accepted the help but turned away again, refusing the second chance at grace God offered.

 

Stanza 3 Summary:

Despite his repeated failures, Donne still finds signs of God’s presence everywhere. The natural world—God’s creation—calls him back to the divine. Every path in life points toward God’s love. Even if Donne gets distracted and loses God in the midst of loving God’s creations, he trusts that God still holds on to those creations and doesn’t lose His connection to Donne. Donne sees that everything—sun, stars, birds, trees—serves to remind him of God. All things are ultimately meant to help his soul reach back toward its Creator.

 

Line-by-line Paraphrase

Stanza 1

MY God, my God, why hast Thou parted so

My God, my God, why have You separated Yourself so completely

 

With me, or with Thyself, that I do go

Either from me, or even from Your own nature, that I am left to wander

 

Still wandering in this leprous wilderness,

Always wandering in this corrupt and diseased world,

 

Where all things stink, and none is cleanly? O

Where everything is filthy and nothing is pure? Oh,

 

Throw not that soul away that thinks Thee so!

Please don’t discard the soul that still believes in You!

 

Wilt Thou meet arms with man, that Thou dost stretch

Would You fight against man, even though You reach out

 

A crumpled hand to all that will come in?

With a bent, welcoming hand to all who turn to You?

 

Thy power is infinite; Thy love is such

Your power has no limits; and Your love is so great

 

That who e’er longs for Thee, cannot despise

That anyone who truly desires You, You cannot turn away.

 

Thou neither to Thyself art true, nor me,

You would not be true to Yourself or to me,

 

But to Him that made this soul, Thou gav’st this soul,

For You gave this soul to the one who created it (God),

 

And Thou art jealous lest this soul should be

And You are possessive, not wanting this soul

 

Another’s, not Thine own, and I think Thee

To belong to anyone but You. I believe that You are

 

Enthralled to Thy love, and though Thou grieve

Captivated by Your love, and though You are saddened

 

At my neglect, Thou dost not leave me so.

By my failure, You still do not abandon me.

 

Stanza 2

Thou didst restore me to my sight, and when

You gave me back my spiritual sight, and when

 

I had said to my soul, “Thy Lord is come,”

I told my soul, “Your Lord has arrived,”

 

He fled, and I went on, and sat me down,

But He vanished, and I kept going and sat back down,

 

For though I saw Him, I did not run to Him.

Even though I saw Him, I didn’t rush toward Him.

 

And when I lay upon a dying bed,

And when I was lying on my deathbed,

 

I heard Thy voice and stood up, and was whole.

I heard Your voice, got up, and was healed.

 

But I forgot Thee, and sat down again,

But I forgot You again and went back to my old ways,

 

And did refuse Thy second proffered grace.

And I rejected the second offer of Your grace.

 

Stanza 3

Yet do I find Thee every where, O Lord;

Yet, Lord, I find You everywhere;

 

Thy creatures beckon me to come to Thee,

Your creations are always calling me to come to You,

 

And all the paths do lead me to Thy love.

And every path in life points toward Your love.

 

If I do lose Thee in my love of them,

Even if I get lost loving those creations instead of You,

 

Thou dost not lose them in Thy love of me.

You still keep them, because You love me.

 

Thou art the end of all; for what confers

You are the final purpose of everything; for what is the point

 

Man with the sun, and stars, and birds, and trees,

Of man’s relationship with the sun, stars, birds, and trees,

 

But that he may find some expression there

If not to find ways through them

 

To send his soul in a song up to Thee?

To lift his soul in praise and song to You?

 

Analysis in Detail

Overview and Context:

John Donne’s “The Expostulation” is a deeply personal and spiritual poem that captures the inner conflict of a believer struggling with guilt, divine distance, and the persistent hope of redemption. The term “expostulation” means a strong expression of protest or disagreement, often with someone loved or respected. Here, Donne speaks directly to God in an emotionally charged monologue, expressing confusion, sorrow, and longing for divine closeness. The poem can be read as a prayer, a confession, and a plea—all at once.

 

Tone and Mood:

The tone throughout the poem is intense, emotional, and reverent. It shifts between desperation, remorse, wonder, and spiritual yearning. Donne is not accusing God in anger but is pleading in bewilderment, asking why God seems distant while he, a weak and sinful soul, still yearns for divine connection. There is a tone of humility, as Donne acknowledges his repeated failures, but also hope, as he still sees God's grace in creation and remembers past mercies.

 

Themes:

Divine Distance vs. Human Longing:

The central theme is the feeling of spiritual abandonment or separation from God, contrasted with the soul’s longing to return to Him. Donne is deeply aware of God's presence but feels as though he is walking alone in a “leprous wilderness,” symbolizing a sinful and broken world. His soul longs for purity and restoration.

 

God’s Mercy and Jealous Love:

Donne presents God as powerful and loving, yet jealous—a biblical concept where God desires His people to remain faithful to Him alone. Despite Donne’s backsliding and forgetfulness, he sees God as continually reaching out in grace, even though He is grieved by the poet's neglect.

 

Human Weakness and Inconsistency:

Donne confesses how he repeatedly fails to respond to God’s call. Even when healed or spiritually awakened, he forgets and falls back into his former state. This cyclical pattern of sin, repentance, and relapse is a common theme in Donne’s religious poetry, showing the struggle between the spirit and the flesh.

 

God in Creation:

Despite his failures, Donne finds comfort in seeing God’s fingerprints in nature. The sun, stars, birds, and trees all call him back to the Creator. He reflects on the idea that creation serves to guide the soul back to God, and that even when distracted by worldly beauty, God's presence can still be found in those things.

 

Imagery and Symbolism:

Donne uses rich and evocative imagery. The “leprous wilderness” is a metaphor for the spiritual decay of the world. God’s “crumpled hand” is a touching image of divine mercy offered even to the undeserving. Nature becomes a powerful symbol of divine communication—each element calling the poet to return to God.

His own soul is portrayed almost as another character—sometimes responsive, other times forgetful or lazy. The phrase “I did not run to Him” underscores human sluggishness in responding to grace.

 

Structure and Language:

The poem is written in three unrhymed stanzas of uneven line lengths, giving it a conversational and intimate quality—like a personal prayer or journal entry. The language is a blend of biblical diction (“Thou,” “Thy,” “proffered grace”) and emotional directness. Donne’s style here is more confessional than argumentative, focused more on expressing the state of the soul than constructing a theological case.

Despite its structure being looser than a traditional sonnet, the poem remains tightly focused on a spiritual progression:

First, the sense of divine distance and human corruption.

Second, the memory of past encounters with God.

Third, the recognition of God’s continuous presence in creation.

 

Conclusion:

“The Expostulation” is a moving spiritual reflection on grace, failure, and persistent divine love. Donne does not hide his weakness—he exposes it fully before God. Yet he ends not in despair but in a rediscovered awareness that God is always near, calling through His creation and offering redemption again and again. The poem invites the reader into a deeply human experience of the struggle for faith—one marked by lapses and longings, guilt and grace.

 

Possible Exam Questions

What is the meaning of the word “expostulation” in the context of the poem?

 

How does the poet describe the world he is wandering through?

 

What is the poet’s complaint or concern in the opening lines of the poem?

 

What metaphor does Donne use to describe the condition of the world?

 

What does the poet recall about his spiritual journey in the second stanza?

 

How does the poet respond after God restores his spiritual sight?

 

According to Donne, how is God’s love reflected in creation?

 

What role do the sun, stars, birds, and trees play in the poem?

 

“Throw not that soul away that thinks Thee so!”

– Explain the context and meaning of this line. What does it reveal about the speaker’s attitude?

 

“Thou didst restore me to my sight, and when / I had said to my soul, ‘Thy Lord is come,’ / He fled...”

– What spiritual experience is being described here? How does the speaker respond?

 

“Yet do I find Thee everywhere, O Lord; / Thy creatures beckon me to come to Thee.”

– How does the speaker express God’s presence in the natural world?

 

Discuss the theme of spiritual struggle in John Donne’s “The Expostulation.” How does the poem reflect the speaker’s inner conflict and desire for redemption?

 

Analyze how Donne presents the relationship between God and man in “The Expostulation.” How is divine love portrayed despite human failure?

 

“The Expostulation” is a prayer of the wandering soul. Discuss how Donne uses personal confession to explore the theme of grace and divine mercy.

 

Examine the use of imagery and symbolism in “The Expostulation.” How do these literary devices enhance the spiritual depth of the poem?

 

How does “The Expostulation” reflect John Donne’s religious sensibilities and personal faith journey? Illustrate your answer with references from the poem.