Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE LITANY: 12. THE VIRGINS by JOHN DONNE

Poet Analysis

First Line: THE COLD WHITE SNOWY NUNNERY
Last Line: AND CALL CHAST WIDOWHEAD VIRGINITIE.
The cold white snowie Nunnery,
Which, as thy mother, their high Abbesse, sent
Their bodies backe againe to thee,
As thou hadst lent them, cleane and innocent,
Though they have not obtain'd of thee,
That or thy Church, or I,
Should keep, as they, our first integrity;
Divorce thou sinne in us, or bid it die,
And call chast widowhead Virginitie.



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