Holy Sonnet X: Death Be Not Proud

John Donne

Death, be not proud, though some have callèd thee
Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so;
For those whom thou think’st thou dost overthrow
Die not, poor death, nor yet canst thou kill me.
From rest and sleep, which yet thy pictures be,
Much pleasure, then from thee much more, must flow
And soonest our best men with thee do go,
Rest of their bones and soul’s delivery.
Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings and desperate men
And dost with poison, war and sickness dwell,
And poppy or charms can make us sleep as well
And better than thy stroke; why swell’st thou then?
One short sleep past, we wake eternally,
And death shall be no more; death, thou shalt die.

Next 10 Poems

• John Donne : Holy Sonnet Xi: Spit In My Face You Jews, And Pierce My Side
• John Donne : Holy Sonnet Xii: Why Are We By All Creatures Waited On?
• John Donne : Holy Sonnet Xiii: What If This Present Were The World's Last Night?
• John Donne : Holy Sonnet Xiv
• John Donne : Holy Sonnet Xiv: Batter My Heart, Three-personed God
• John Donne : Holy Sonnet Xix: Oh, To Vex Me, Contraries Meet In One
• John Donne : Holy Sonnet Xv: Wilt Thou Love God, As He Thee? Then Digest
• John Donne : Holy Sonnet Xvi: Father, Part Of His Double Interest
• John Donne : Holy Sonnet Xvii: Since She Whom I Loved
• John Donne : Holy Sonnet Xviii: Show Me, Dear Christ, Thy Spouse, So Bright And Clear

Previous 10 Poems

• John Donne : Holy Sonnet X
• John Donne : Holy Sonnet Viii: If Faithful Souls Be Alike Glorified
• John Donne : Holy Sonnet Vii: At The Round Earth's Imagined Corners Blow
• John Donne : Holy Sonnet Vi: This Is My Play's Last Scene, Here Heavens Appoint
• John Donne : Holy Sonnet V: I Am A Little World Made Cunningly
• John Donne : Holy Sonnet Ix: If Poisonous Minerals, And If That Tree
• John Donne : Holy Sonnet Iv: Oh My Black Soul! Now Art Thou Summoned
• John Donne : Holy Sonnet Iii: O Might Those Sighs And Tears Return Again
• John Donne : Holy Sonnet Ii: As Due By Many Titles I Resign
• John Donne : Holy Sonnet I: Tho Has Made Me