To Mr. Christopher Brooke by John Donne (Poem, Summary, Paraphrase & Analysis)

 

To Mr. Christopher Brooke

by John Donne

(Poem, Summary, Paraphrase & Analysis) 

To Mr. Christopher Brooke

My best contentions for your love are done;

I cannot strive to love you now more than

I love you. The most ambitious art is but to draw

Faces, and lines we love; no more can

My soul pretend to paint your worth, though she draw

Of every faculty the richest part,

To make the total of your only heart.

 

Though they who know God's name more, dare to do

More than they can express, yet what's true love

Asks not return of love, but is a due

Which when we pay, we better subjects prove.

But I must love because I live; there be

Some that by drawing love, grow friends to me.

 

O give me leave to make my self to you

A new friend, to renew my name and you;

And if you wonder how I love, look on

My soul: for till soul be known,

Love 'tis not. Every winter I do grow

Into new goodness; but my body’s true

Spring is my soul. My body's not so true

As souls are. Souls from dead of night do grow.

 

The earth each summer swells with greedier cheer,

When Spring is gone, and every weed looks fair;

But thou art all Spring; on thy cheek and brow

Sits such a bloom, as after thunder showers,

The eye of April shows: each day to thee

Brings his tribute of more youth: in thee do grow

All herbs that Nature makes, and Phœbus knows.

 

Let me not grieve then, that in earlier years

When young men’s blood is their ambition’s sphere,

I studied at my body’s cost: the gains

Are eternal: for love, not for pains.

 

Summary

Opening Expressions of Affection

John Donne begins by declaring that he no longer needs to strive or compete to prove his love for Christopher Brooke—it has reached its full strength. He says that no ambitious effort or artistic attempt could truly portray the worth of Brooke’s heart, even if one gathered the richest qualities of every human faculty.

 

True Love Is Beyond Expectation

He explains that genuine love doesn’t seek or demand a return; rather, it is something due—an obligation or a natural offering. True love is not transactional; it exists simply because it must. He mentions that even those who know God more deeply show their love by doing more than they say, implying that love is better proved through action than through words.

 

Desire to Renew Friendship

Donne then shifts to a personal plea: he wishes to become a new kind of friend to Brooke—to renew their friendship afresh. He asks Brooke not to be surprised by the depth of his affection, because the source of that love is his soul. He asserts that love isn't truly love unless it stems from a knowledge of the soul, not just the outward appearance or casual acquaintance.

 

Contrast Between the Soul and the Body

Donne continues by reflecting on the difference between the body and the soul. While physical things like his body might age or change, his soul continues to grow each year with “new goodness.” The soul, unlike the body, is constant and true. He sees the soul as the essence of springtime renewal, not the physical body.

 

Praising Brooke’s Eternal Youth and Beauty

Donne then praises Brooke’s seemingly eternal youthfulness. He compares Brooke to spring—always blooming and vibrant. Even as seasons pass and other things fade or change, Brooke remains as fresh as the April sky after a thunderstorm. His face and spirit are always renewed, as if he contains all the herbs and beauty known to nature and to the sun god, Phoebus.

 

Reflections on His Own Past Choices

In the closing lines, Donne reflects on how he spent his earlier years not chasing physical pleasures or fame but studying, even at the cost of his body’s comfort. Yet he finds contentment in this, suggesting that the gains he made—particularly in understanding and experiencing love—are eternal. His love was for something higher, not for physical pain or worldly ambition.

 

Line-by-line Paraphrase

1. My best contentions for your love are done;

I no longer have to fight or try hard to win your love.

 

2. I cannot strive to love you now more than

I already love you as much as I possibly can.

 

3. I love you. The most ambitious art is but to draw

Even the greatest artists can only try to sketch or represent

 

4. Faces, and lines we love; no more can

The faces or outlines of what we cherish—but nothing more.

 

5. My soul pretend to paint your worth, though she draw

Likewise, my soul cannot fully describe your value, even if it uses

 

6. Of every faculty the richest part,

The best qualities of every human ability.

 

7. To make the total of your only heart.

Even all those efforts would only amount to describing your heart alone.

 

8. Though they who know God's name more, dare to do

Those who know God deeply often dare to do

 

9. More than they can express, yet what's true love

More than they can say—but real love

 

10. Asks not return of love, but is a due

Doesn’t expect love in return; it's something we owe naturally.

 

11. Which when we pay, we better subjects prove.

When we show love like this, we become better and more loyal people.

 

12. But I must love because I live; there be

I have to love simply because I am alive; and

 

13. Some that by drawing love, grow friends to me.

There are some who become friends by being drawn to my love.

 

14. O give me leave to make my self to you

Please allow me to present myself to you

 

15. A new friend, to renew my name and you;

As a renewed friend, so that both my identity and our bond are refreshed.

 

16. And if you wonder how I love, look on

If you’re curious about how I love,

 

17. My soul: for till soul be known,

Just look at my soul—because unless a soul is understood,

 

18. Love 'tis not. Every winter I do grow

There is no true love. Every winter, I grow

 

19. Into new goodness; but my body’s true

Into better moral character; yet my body’s real

 

20. Spring is my soul. My body's not so true

Spring (renewal) comes from my soul. My body isn’t as sincere

 

21. As souls are. Souls from dead of night do grow.

As souls are. Souls grow even out of the darkness.

 

22. The earth each summer swells with greedier cheer,

In summer, the earth becomes fuller and more lush with joy.

 

23. When Spring is gone, and every weed looks fair;

After spring ends, even weeds appear beautiful.

 

24. But thou art all Spring; on thy cheek and brow

But you are like spring itself—your face and forehead

 

25. Sits such a bloom, as after thunder showers,

Have such freshness, like the bright beauty after a storm.

 

26. The eye of April shows: each day to thee

Like the clear look of April skies; every day brings you

 

27. Brings his tribute of more youth: in thee do grow

A gift of more youthfulness. Within you are growing

 

28. All herbs that Nature makes, and Phœbus knows.

Every plant nature creates, and all that the sun-god Phoebus nourishes.

 

29. Let me not grieve then, that in earlier years

So, I should not regret that in my younger days

 

30. When young men’s blood is their ambition’s sphere,

When young men are usually driven by passion and ambition,

 

31. I studied at my body’s cost: the gains

I spent my time studying, even though it affected my health.

 

32. Are eternal: for love, not for pains.

But what I gained is everlasting—because I loved, not because I suffered.

 

Analysis in Detail

This poem is one of Donne’s verse epistles—personal poems written in the style of letters to his close friends. Here, Donne expresses deep affection and admiration for Christopher Brooke, blending personal friendship, spiritual reflection, philosophical depth, and poetic elegance.

 

1. Love Beyond Effort or Competition (Lines 1–3)

“My best contentions for your love are done;

I cannot strive to love you now more than

I love you.”

Donne opens by asserting that his efforts to win Brooke’s love are over—not because he’s given up, but because his love has reached its full extent. The word “contentions” suggests not conflict, but striving or effort, and he implies that true love reaches a point where striving becomes unnecessary.

 

2. Inexpressible Value of Brooke (Lines 4–7)

“The most ambitious art is but to draw... your only heart.”

Even the most talented artists can only capture physical appearance, not true inner worth. Donne humbly admits that his soul, despite its highest faculties, cannot fully capture or describe Brooke’s worth. This is typical of Donne’s metaphysical style—intellectually ambitious yet spiritually humble.

 

3. The Nature of True Love (Lines 8–13)

“True love... asks not return... we better subjects prove.”

Donne offers a deep insight into love’s moral and spiritual nature. Real love, he argues, does not seek reciprocity. It is a duty, not a bargain. This ideal of selfless love aligns with Christian values, and Donne suggests that loving without expecting anything back makes one a better person—a more faithful “subject,” possibly to God or to virtue itself.

 

4. Soul as the Source of Love (Lines 14–21)

“If you wonder how I love, look on / My soul.”

Here, Donne distinguishes between outward appearances and the soul’s truth. He invites Brooke to look into his soul, which is where his love originates. The soul—not the body—is the true spring or renewal in his life. He contrasts this with the body, which is fleeting, less trustworthy, and prone to decay. This reflects the metaphysical interest in the soul-body dualism.

 

5. Eternal Spring in Brooke (Lines 22–28)

“But thou art all Spring... in thee do grow / All herbs...”

In a lovely, lyrical passage, Donne celebrates Brooke’s perpetual youth and vitality, likening him to an eternal spring. Even as seasons pass and time moves on, Brooke appears unchanged, blooming like nature after rain. The reference to “Phoebus” (Apollo, the sun god) aligns Brooke with light, growth, and creativity.

This section elevates Brooke almost to a mythic or ideal state—a living embodiment of youth, virtue, and inspiration.

 

6. Donne’s Personal Reflection (Lines 29–32)

“Let me not grieve then... for love, not for pains.”

Donne closes with a personal reflection: in his younger days, when most men pursued ambition and worldly pleasures, he chose study and spiritual growth—“at my body’s cost.” But he has no regret, because what he gained was eternal. His choice was driven by love—not romantic or erotic love, but perhaps a mix of divine, intellectual, and friendly love.

 

Literary Devices and Style

Metaphysical Imagery: Donne uses soul-body contrasts, abstract qualities, and spiritual language to explore deep themes.

Philosophical Tone: The poem is introspective and concerned with eternal truths, not fleeting pleasures.

Religious and Moral Undertones: Concepts like duty, virtue, eternal gain, and divine love permeate the poem.

Flattering Praise: Brooke is not just admired as a friend, but idealized as a figure of eternal beauty and moral springtime.

 

Conclusion

“To Mr. Christopher Brooke” is not just a letter of friendship, but a poetic meditation on love, the soul, and human value. Donne uses his friend as a springboard to explore the higher nature of affection—love as something divine, constant, and nourishing. His blend of intellect, emotion, and spiritual thought makes this poem a powerful example of metaphysical poetry.