b. CE 101 - The Good Morrow by John Donne
Channel: Ishan Marvel
Date: 2020-12-04

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTSoWRKkWJTZHH9sr7bmr37Wd16TTbRbr 
From THE BLOSSOMING MIND

METAPHYSICAL POETS
* A loose group of 17th century English poets (such as John Donne, George Herbert and Andrew Marvell) whose work was characterised by witty wordplay and conversational rhythms, and lack of lyrical and poetic conventions.
* Metaphysical conceit: drawing a witty connection between seemingly unrelated things, e.g. Donne's 'The Flea' poem where the insect is likened to the marriage bed and temple, for the lovers' blood has been mixed therein.
* Although the name began in ridicule, as the traditional or established poets chided these rule-breaking poets for trying to show off their metaphysical knowledge, the Metaphysical Poets have since been canonised lauded by modern scholars and readers.
* Physics: Study of matter and motion, of how the physical world works.
Meta: higher/beyond
Metaphysics: Beyond physics/the material world, i.e. delving into the fundamental nature of reality, including mind and matter -- into questions of existence, soul, god, love, feelings, etc.

JOHN DONNE (1572-1631)
* His book 'Songs and Sonnets' was published posthumously in 1633.
* A lot of his earlier poetry dealt with courtship and the joys of mutual love and married bliss. However, his latter poetry moved towards religious and metaphysical ideas.
* His poems follow an easy conversational rhythm combined with clever, witty and unexpected conceits/comparisons and arguments.

THE GOOD MORROW
* The 'Good Morning' is directed towards the souls of the poet and his lover, which he believes are waking up to true reality, now that they have discovered the joys of love.
* When lovers unite, they make a whole world unto themselves (compare with ideas of Shiv-Shakti, Yin-Yang, etc.)
* Witty conceits , as with sea explorers, maps, reflections in the eyes, and alchemical ideas.
* "Seven Sleepers' Den" refers to a story of seven young Christians who got trapped in a cave in 249 AD. Apparently, they slept inside for 187 years before waking up alive. 'Sleeping' here refers to being unaware of the higher reality of love.