English poem
To Mr. Thomas Woodward: Pregnant Again with th’ Old Twins, Hope and Fear
by John Donne
Pregnant again with th’ old twins, Hope and Fear, Oft have I asked for thee, both how and where Thou wert; and what my hopes of letters were;
As in our streets sly beggars narrowly Watch motions of the giver’s hand or eye, And evermore conceive some hope thereby.
And now thy alms is given, thy letter’s read, The body risen again, the which was dead, And thy poor starveling bountifully fed.
After this banquet my soul doth say grace, And praise thee for ’t, and zealously embrace Thy love, though I think thy love in this case To be as gluttons, which say ’midst their meat, They love that best of which they most do eat.
More by John Donne
- To Mr. Samuel Brooke
- To Mr. Thomas Woodward: All Hail, Sweet Poet, More Full of More Strong Fire
- To Mr. Thomas Woodward: At Once from Hence My Lines and I Depart
- To Mr. Thomas Woodward: Haste Thee, Harsh Verse, as Fast as Thy Lame Measure
- To Mr. Tilman After He Had Taken Orders
- To Mrs. Magdalen Herbert
- To Sir Edward Herbert, Now Lord Herbert Cherbury, Being at the Siege of Juliers
- To Sir Henry Goodyere