To Mr. T. W. by John Donne (Poem, Summary, Paraphrase & Analysis)

 

To Mr. T. W.

by John Donne

(Poem, Summary, Paraphrase & Analysis) 

To Mr. T. W.

All hail sweet poet, more full of more strong fire,

Than hath or shall enkindle any spirit:

I loved what nature gave thee, but this merit

Of wit and art I love not but admire;

Who have before or shall write after thee,

Their works, though toughly laboured, will be

Like infancy or age to manly wit,

Their vehemence or coldness equal it.

 

Yet as old some envy and some admire

Their hoary story, others their fresh fire;

So I, at once, admire thee and envy

Thee, that thy words do make things live and be:

Yet when thy wanton verse doth re-inspire

Loves, and the wine and beauty raise the fire,

I sigh and grieve that there thy muse should fall

So low as to be libidinous in all.

 

Cease then thy sportful muse, and let her rise

To better objects, where she may devise

Things brave and high, such as may make thee be

An author honoured for eternity.

Although none so do, yet write still to me,

And I will know thy wit, and praise it too.

For we may make us of the poet’s pen

What Scripture doth of tongues, interpret it to men.

 

This verse combines praise, admiration, and a gentle rebuke or guidance. Donne is both impressed by T.W.'s poetic fire and talent, but also concerned that his wit is being spent on "wanton verse" or trivial themes. Donne encourages him to pursue more elevated, eternal subjects—aiming for lasting honor as a poet.

 

Summary

Lines 1–2:

Donne greets his friend warmly, calling him a sweet poet full of intense poetic energy — more than any other poet has had or ever will have.

 

Lines 3–4:

He says he originally loved his friend for the natural talent he possessed, but now he admires him even more for his skill and artistry in writing.

 

Lines 5–6:

Donne claims that anyone who has written before or will write after this poet will seem immature or outdated when compared to his friend’s mature wit and poetic strength.

 

Lines 7–8:

He emphasizes that other poets’ passionate or cold attempts at poetry still won’t match the balance and excellence of his friend’s writing.

 

Lines 9–10:

Donne notes that just as people both envy and admire the aged for their wisdom or youth for their energy, he feels the same dual feeling toward his friend’s poetry — admiration mixed with envy.

 

Lines 11–12:

He confesses that when his friend’s poetry revives themes of love, wine, and beauty, Donne feels a kind of sorrow or discomfort.

 

Lines 13–14:

He regrets that such a gifted muse (poetic voice) should descend to focus on passionate or sensual subjects all the time.

 

Lines 15–16:

Donne urges his friend to stop writing playfully or about low themes and instead turn to higher, nobler topics.

 

Lines 17–18:

He encourages his friend to compose powerful and meaningful poetry — the kind that could give him a lasting reputation and honor through the ages.

 

Lines 19–20:

Even if others don’t recognize his talent, Donne promises he will continue to read, appreciate, and praise his friend’s poetry.

 

Lines 21–22:

Finally, Donne offers a comparison: just as people interpret Scripture into different languages to spread its meaning, he will interpret and explain his friend’s poetic gifts to others — ensuring his work is understood and valued.

 

Line-by-line Paraphrase

1. All hail sweet poet, more full of more strong fire,

Greetings, dear poet, whose passion burns more strongly than any other.

 

2. Than hath or shall enkindle any spirit:

Your poetic fire surpasses what any poet in the past or future could possess.

 

3. I loved what nature gave thee, but this merit

I admired your natural talent, but now I admire something even greater—

 

4. Of wit and art I love not but admire;

Your cleverness and craftsmanship — I don’t just love it, I truly stand in awe.

 

5. Who have before or shall write after thee,

Any poet who came before you or will write after you,

 

6. Their works, though toughly laboured, will be

Even if they work very hard,

 

7. Like infancy or age to manly wit,

Their poetry will seem childish or aged compared to your mature intelligence.

 

8. Their vehemence or coldness equal it.

Their passion or lack thereof still won’t match your balanced skill.

 

9. Yet as old some envy and some admire

Just as people sometimes envy or admire the elderly,

 

10. Their hoary story, others their fresh fire;

Some respect their wisdom, others admire youthful energy,

 

11. So I, at once, admire thee and envy

In the same way, I both admire and envy you.

 

12. Thee, that thy words do make things live and be:

Because your words have the power to bring things to life.

 

13. Yet when thy wanton verse doth re-inspire

But when your poems revive sensual themes—

 

14. Loves, and the wine and beauty raise the fire,

When they stir up feelings of romance, alcohol, and physical beauty—

 

15. I sigh and grieve that there thy muse should fall

I feel sad that your poetic gift stoops to such subjects.

 

16. So low as to be libidinous in all.

So low as to be overly lustful or focused on desire.

 

17. Cease then thy sportful muse, and let her rise

So stop writing such playful poems — let your muse aim higher.

 

18. To better objects, where she may devise

Let her turn to nobler themes and create

 

19. Things brave and high, such as may make thee be

Poetry that is bold and lofty — work that can make you

 

20. An author honoured for eternity.

A writer remembered and honored forever.

 

21. Although none so do, yet write still to me,

Even if no one else appreciates you, keep writing to me,

 

22. And I will know thy wit, and praise it too.

Because I understand and will admire your intelligence and talent.

 

23. For we may make us of the poet’s pen

After all, we can use a poet’s writing

 

24. What Scripture doth of tongues, interpret it to men.

Just like the Bible uses different languages — we can interpret it so others can understand.

 

Analysis in Detail

This poem is one of Donne’s verse letters — personal poems addressed to real individuals, often mixing praise, advice, and reflection. In “To Mr. T. W.”, Donne writes to a younger poet (possibly Thomas Woodward), both celebrating his poetic talent and cautioning him against using it for trivial or sensual themes. The tone shifts fluidly between admiration, envy, disappointment, and encouragement.

From the outset, Donne expresses deep admiration for the poet’s natural gift and cultivated artistry. He calls his poetic “fire” stronger than that of any poet past or future, positioning T.W. as a uniquely inspired figure. Donne distinguishes between natural talent (what nature gave him) and learned skill (wit and art), and he values both highly — though he says the latter draws his admiration more deeply. This shows Donne’s belief that poetic greatness must be both innate and refined through effort.

He then compares T.W.’s poetry to that of others, declaring that their works — even if produced with labor and intensity — fall short. He characterizes other poets’ works as either immature (like infancy) or tired and weak (like old age), while T.W.’s writing stands as “manly wit” — a phrase that suggests intellectual maturity and poetic authority.

However, Donne introduces a shift midway through the poem. Though he admires T.W.’s power, he is troubled by the poet’s choice of subject matter. He criticizes the “wanton verse” — poetry that stirs up love, wine, and sensual pleasures. Donne expresses personal sorrow that such talent should be used for such base or lustful content. This lament reveals Donne’s desire for poetry to serve higher purposes — to instruct, inspire, or pursue truth and virtue. It also reflects the broader Renaissance idea that the poet has a moral and spiritual responsibility.

Donne urges the poet to let his “sportful muse” rise to nobler themes, such as heroic or philosophical ideas that can bring lasting honor. He envisions T.W. becoming a poet whose name will be remembered forever — not just a clever writer, but a worthy author. Donne’s plea is not just criticism; it is a mentor’s encouragement to rise to one’s full potential.

Despite his criticism, Donne’s support for T.W. remains unwavering. He says that even if no one else recognizes his greatness, he (Donne) will continue to read, understand, and praise his work. In the closing lines, he makes a theological comparison: just as Scripture can be interpreted in many tongues so it may be understood by all, Donne sees himself as an interpreter of T.W.’s poetic “tongue,” ready to explain and share its brilliance with others.

 

Conclusion:

This verse letter blends praise, critique, and mentorship. Donne recognizes the young poet’s immense power but worries that his talents are being wasted on fleeting pleasures. Through this poetic counsel, Donne reflects his own ideals — that poetry should reach beyond pleasure and contribute to lasting beauty and wisdom. The poem is a beautiful example of Donne’s moral earnestness, wit, and skillful use of classical and religious metaphors, all directed toward shaping and elevating another artist.