The Canonization by John Donne

In the opening line of “Canonization” – “ For God sake hold your tongue, and let me love” the poet urge not to be disturbed by an outsider’s speech in his act of love, the poet asks the intruder to keep quiet. He suggest a few alternatives for the intruder in ‘canonization’. He wants to speak then he can chide the poet’s palsy, gout, five gray hairs of ruined fortune, or the intruder can also do a whole lot of things other than speaking about the poet’s health/wealth and love. These activities are acquiring wealth, knowledge of the arts, finding a career and retaining a post, entering the king’s court or the service of a subsidiary Lord, or simply earn money. The intruder can think of any other opportunity as long as it does not interfere with the poet’s love session.

In the next stanza, the poet gives concrete reasons why he should be allowed to love. His love has not injured, drowned, overflowed, frozen, or heated anything; Life goes on normally even while the poet and his beloved continue to love. So, there is no reason why they should be interrupted.

The lover and the beloved perhaps appear strange to the rest of the world, and thus invite curiosity and interruption. However, the poet is not worried about what they are going to labeled as. Whatever strangeness they embody is the result of their love. They show a unique and mysterious unity. In support of further explication of his love experience the poet reinforces images of the Eagle/dove, Taper/Fly and the Phoenix. Their experience of love is fulfillment, destruction, and renewal at the same time.

At this point, a disturbing thought enters the poet’s mind. Perhaps they may not be able to live with this kind of love. Why this treat is perceived is not clear.

However, once dead, they will be fit for sonnets. And ‘well wrought urns’ if not for half-acre tombs and hearse. The poet then goes on to prescribe the hymn that future generations will sing in praise of their love- the love of saints. Their unique and mysterious love, the poet would have us believe, has transformed them into saints, and canonized them.