(Thou hast made me, shall thy work decay?)

John Donne’s poem “Thou hast made me, shall thy work decay?” is a perfect example of Petrarchan sonnet. This sonnet contains fourteen lines and it can be divided into two parts. The first part contains eight lines called octave which present the speaker’s problem of constant temptation by the sins. The second part called the sestet containing six lines and provides God’s attraction as a final solution to the poet’s problem.

Lines 1-4 (Quatrain)

Thou hast made me, shall thy work decay?
Repair me now, for now mine end doth haste,
I run to death, and death meets me as fast,
And all my pleasures are like yesterday;

Donne opens his poem with a question and direct addressing to God that, Is this creation (body of the poet) made up for decay? The poet is worried about it. He feels like his life is falling apart. The poet knows the capability of God to repair and request Him to repair him. He seems quicker because he does not want to live anymore. Donne’s speaker states that he is running towards death, and it is coming “fast” to “meet” him. He understands that all his past was sin like the pleasure of yesterday. Such running of death towards the poet is horrible.

Lines 5-8 (Second Quatrain)

I dare not move my dim eyes any way,
Despair behind, and death before doth cast,
Such terror, and my feebled flesh doth waste,
By sin in it, which it towards hell doth weigh.

In the second quatrain, the poet describes his usual fears that I am unable to move because I just remembering my past bad deeds. He is going to see such terrors because death is coming fast that reminds him of all the deeds. His flesh becomes weak from the sin. He has done many sins in the past and now he terrified that sins will carry strict punishment upon him in the hell but he still feels the need to confess and seek forgiveness and reparations from his Divine Beloved.

 9-12 (Third Quatrain)

Only thou art above, and when towards thee,
By thy leave I can look, I rise again,
But our old subtle foe so tempteth me,
That not one hour I can myself sustain.

In these lines, the poet is optimistic and deems God as the only source of his courage to rise up. The poet expresses his deep sentiments to God and says; when I see towards You I get courage and hope. He positions the Creator "above" and suggests that only toward the Divine can be safely cast his glances. The poet describes his weakness by saying that he does not focus on the divinity even only one hour because of his old enemy Satan always deceives and tempts him.

Lines 13-14 (Couplet)

Thy grace may wing me to prevent his art,
And thou like adamant draw mine iron heart.

The poet once again stresses that God is only his source and He can support him, wing him and repair him. He knows that only God has this capability. He is always in a state of confusion. His open enemy Satan follows him to betray. The last line is a perfect example of metaphysical because the poet used conceit. God is like metal to the speaker’s iron heart. He requested to God that attracts his heart like a magnet attracts iron. He is optimistic about God’s grace.