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

 

The Token

by John Donne

(Poem, Summary, Paraphrase, Analysis & Questions) 

The Token

Send me some token, that my hope may live,

Or that my easeless thoughts may sleep and rest;

Send me some honey to make sweet my hive,

That in my passions I may hope the best.

I beg no riband wrought with thine own hands,

To knit our loves in the fantastic strain

Of new-touched youth; nor ring to show the stands

Of our affection, that as that’s round and plain,

So should our loves meet in simplicity;

No, nor the corals which thy wrist enfold,

Laced up together in congruity,

To show our thoughts should rest in the same hold;

No, nor thy picture, though most gracious,

And most desired, since when we are not one,

It were to be like Portraicture, to us,

The which were meant to shadow parts alone.

What shall I then send back? Some locks of hair?

A breathing sigh? a kiss? but now I swear,

Nor will I take, nor give, nor lose, nor care

For token, prayer, vow, picture, sigh or hair.

 

Summary

The speaker opens the poem by requesting a token or sign of love from the person he addresses. He desires something—anything—that might keep his hope alive or help his restless and troubled thoughts to find peace.

He asks for something sweet—perhaps metaphorically likened to honey—that might sweeten his emotions and give him comfort, encouraging him to think positively about their relationship.

The speaker clarifies that he is not asking for common love gifts, such as:

A ribbon made by the beloved’s hand, which might be used in youthful romantic traditions to symbolize affection.

A ring, which typically symbolizes unity and simplicity in love.

A bracelet of coral beads, which might signify two minds or hearts joined together, aligned in thought or purpose.

A portrait or picture of the beloved, even though it might be beautiful and highly desired—because to him, such an image would only represent a part of the beloved, not the whole person.

He reflects that pictures and physical tokens cannot make them one in reality, and thus they would only emphasize separation.

In the end, the speaker considers what he might send in return. Could it be a lock of hair, a sigh, or a kiss? Yet, he ultimately declares firmly that he will neither give nor receive any such tokens. He will not take, give, lose, or even care about any symbolic gestures like tokens, vows, sighs, pictures, or hair.

The poem expresses a shift from desiring a token to rejecting all material or symbolic gestures, suggesting that such items are ultimately insufficient in conveying or sustaining true love or connection.

 

Line-by-line Paraphrase

Original

Send me some token, that my hope may live,

Or that my easeless thoughts may sleep and rest;

 

Paraphrase

Send me some sign or gift to keep my hope alive,

Or to calm my troubled mind so I can find peace.

 

Original

Send me some honey to make sweet my hive,

That in my passions I may hope the best.

 

Paraphrase

Give me something sweet—like honey for my heart—

So I can remain hopeful in my feelings for you.

 

Original

I beg no riband wrought with thine own hands,

To knit our loves in the fantastic strain

Of new-touched youth;

 

Paraphrase

I’m not asking for a ribbon you made,

To tie us together in the fanciful ways

Young lovers often do.

 

Original

nor ring to show the stands

Of our affection, that as that’s round and plain,

So should our loves meet in simplicity;

 

Paraphrase

Nor do I want a ring to symbolize our love,

Suggesting that, like the ring—plain and round—

Our love should also be simple and complete.

 

Original

No, nor the corals which thy wrist enfold,

Laced up together in congruity,

To show our thoughts should rest in the same hold;

 

Paraphrase

Not even the coral beads you wear on your wrist,

Strung together in harmony,

To suggest that our minds should be united the same way.

 

Original

No, nor thy picture, though most gracious,

And most desired, since when we are not one,

It were to be like Portraicture, to us,

The which were meant to shadow parts alone.

 

Paraphrase

Nor your picture, even though it’s beautiful

And I long to have it—because we’re not together,

And a portrait only shows part of you,

Not the whole living person I desire.

 

Original

What shall I then send back? Some locks of hair?

A breathing sigh? a kiss?

 

Paraphrase

Then what should I send in return? A strand of hair?

A sigh filled with emotion? A kiss?

 

Original

but now I swear,

Nor will I take, nor give, nor lose, nor care

For token, prayer, vow, picture, sigh or hair.

 

Paraphrase

But now I firmly declare:

I will neither take nor give, nor lose nor care

About any tokens—whether they are prayers, promises, pictures, sighs, or locks of hair.

 

Analysis in Detail

John Donne’s poem “The Token” explores the nature of love and the inadequacy of physical symbols to truly represent emotional and spiritual connection. It begins with a plea for a “token”—some kind of sign or gesture—that might offer the speaker hope or relief from his emotional turmoil. This opening sets a tone of vulnerability and longing. However, the poem quickly takes a philosophical turn as the speaker rejects all traditional love tokens—ribbons, rings, bracelets, portraits, sighs, and even kisses—because, in his view, they are insufficient representations of real unity in love.

Donne’s speaker is deeply aware of the limitations of material things in expressing love. A ribbon or ring may symbolize union, simplicity, or fidelity, but they are just symbols, not the thing itself. Even a portrait of the beloved, no matter how beautiful or cherished, cannot replace true presence or emotional unity—it is merely a partial reflection. Through this rejection, Donne highlights a central tension in his metaphysical poetry: the conflict between the spiritual and the physical, and the desire to transcend the material in pursuit of something more eternal and meaningful.

There is also an implicit critique of conventional or superficial romantic gestures. The speaker seems to suggest that lovers often rely on such gestures to maintain relationships, but these are ultimately hollow if not backed by genuine emotional and spiritual intimacy. This is consistent with Donne’s broader poetic style, which often challenges societal norms, especially those concerning love and religion. He wants a love that goes beyond symbols, one that does not need representation, because true love, in its purest form, is already complete and self-sufficient.

The tone of the poem shifts gradually—from hopeful and pleading at the beginning to resolute and philosophical by the end. This transition mirrors the speaker’s inner journey: he starts with a desire for reassurance but ends with a strong self-denial, choosing to detach from outward tokens in favor of a deeper, perhaps more painful, truth—that love, if it cannot be fully shared and experienced in unity, cannot be captured through material means.

Stylistically, the poem is a fine example of Donne’s metaphysical wit and paradox. His argument is structured as a logical progression, moving from emotional request to rational rejection, employing vivid metaphors (like the “honey” and “hive”) and symbolic items (rings, coral, pictures) to make abstract ideas tangible. The poem ends not with resolution but with a deliberate renunciation, adding a sense of emotional weight and maturity. The speaker is not bitter; he is simply choosing depth over decoration, truth over illusion.

 

Possible Exam Questions     

What is the speaker asking for in the opening lines of the poem?

 

List two physical love tokens that the speaker rejects in the poem.

 

According to the speaker, why is a portrait of the beloved not enough?

 

What does the “honey” and “hive” imagery symbolize in the poem?

 

What is the tone of the speaker in the final lines of the poem?

 

Reference-to-Context Questions:

 

“Send me some token, that my hope may live,

Or that my easeless thoughts may sleep and rest;”

Explain the meaning of these lines. What do they reveal about the speaker’s emotional state?

 

“No, nor thy picture, though most gracious,

And most desired, since when we are not one,

It were to be like Portraicture, to us,

The which were meant to shadow parts alone.”

Discuss the speaker’s argument about the limitations of pictures in expressing love.

 

“Nor will I take, nor give, nor lose, nor care

For token, prayer, vow, picture, sigh or hair.”

How does the speaker’s attitude shift in these concluding lines? What does this reveal about his understanding of love?

 

Discuss how “The Token” reflects John Donne’s metaphysical style, with reference to his use of symbols, logic, and emotional depth.

 

Analyze the speaker’s view on material tokens of love. Why does he ultimately reject them?

 

How does Donne use contrast between appearance and reality in “The Token” to express his thoughts on love?

 

Explain how the theme of inner emotional truth versus outward display is presented in the poem.

 

Compare and contrast the beginning and the end of the poem. How does the speaker’s attitude evolve?