Twickenham Garden by John Donne summary

 Blasted with sighs, and surrounded with tears,
Hither I come to seek the spring,
And at mine eyes, and at mine ears,
Receive such balms as else cure every thing.
But O! self-traitor, I do bring
The spider Love, which transubstantiates all,
And can convert manna to gall;
And that this place may thoroughly be thought
True paradise, I have the serpent brought.

’Twere wholesomer for me that winter did
Benight the glory of this place,
And that a grave frost did forbid
These trees to laugh and mock me to my face ;
But that I may not this disgrace
Endure, nor yet leave loving, Love, let me
Some senseless piece of this place be;
Make me a mandrake, so I may grow here,
Or a stone fountain weeping out my year.

Hither with crystal phials, lovers, come,
And take my tears, which are love’s wine,
And try your mistress’ tears at home,
For all are false, that taste not just like mine.
Alas! hearts do not in eyes shine,
Nor can you more judge women’s thoughts by tears,
Than by her shadow what she wears.
O perverse sex, where none is true but she,
Who’s therefore true, because her truth kills me.

"Twickenham Garden" by John Donne is a metaphysical poem that explores themes of love, deceit, and the complexities of human emotions.

The speaker begins by describing a state of emotional distress, suggesting that sighs and tears have overwhelmed him. This sets the tone for a poem centered around the speaker's emotional turmoil. Despite the emotional distress, the speaker seeks solace or renewal in a metaphorical "spring." The word "spring" can be interpreted both as a season of renewal and as a source of water, alluding to a place where he might find emotional relief. The speaker anticipates receiving healing or soothing elements through his eyes and ears, possibly from the beauty of the surroundings or comforting sounds. The speaker hopes that the environment will provide healing balms that can cure everything, suggesting a desire for emotional and spiritual renewal. The tone shifts dramatically, as the speaker accuses himself of being a "self-traitor." This implies that his own actions or thoughts have led to his emotional distress.

The metaphor of "the spider Love" suggests that love, like a spider, has the ability to transform or transubstantiate everything. The use of "transubstantiate" adds a religious or alchemical dimension, as if love has the power to change or convert substances. Love is portrayed as having the ability to turn something sweet and nourishing (manna) into bitterness or gall. This highlights the destructive nature of the speaker's experience of love. The speaker wants to ensure that the place he is in is seen as a true paradise. The speaker metaphorically introduces the serpent, a biblical symbol of temptation and deceit, into the paradise. This introduces a layer of complexity, suggesting that even in moments of perceived paradise, there is an undercurrent of danger or deceit.

The speaker contemplates that it would be healthier for him if the winter darkness covered the glory of the place.  The speaker wishes for a severe frost that would prevent the trees from appearing cheerful and mocking him.

The speaker expresses a conflict between the desire to avoid disgrace or emotional pain and the unwillingness to stop loving. There's a sense of internal struggle and contradiction. The speaker, in a metaphorical plea, asks to become a senseless or emotionless part of the environment, suggesting a desire to escape the pain by becoming a mandrake (a mythical plant with supposed magical properties). Alternatively, the speaker imagines becoming a stone fountain that weeps continuously for a year, expressing a desire for cathartic release of emotions.

The speaker addresses lovers, inviting them to come with crystal phials (small glass containers) to collect something from him. The speaker describes his tears as "love’s wine," suggesting that his emotions are a valuable substance.

The speaker challenges other lovers to compare his tears with those of their mistresses, implying that his tears are more genuine.

The speaker asserts that tears, like love, are false or insincere unless they taste like his own. This may suggest a belief in the uniqueness and authenticity of his emotional experience.

The speaker laments that true emotions or sincerity cannot be discerned merely by looking into someone's eyes.

Continuing the theme of deceit, the speaker argues that tears are not reliable indicators of a woman's thoughts or emotions. This challenges the conventional belief that tears are a transparent expression of one's inner feelings.

The speaker concludes with a vivid metaphor, asserting that judging a woman's thoughts by her tears is as unreliable as determining what she wears by her shadow. This further emphasizes the theme of ambiguity and the difficulty of deciphering true emotions.

The speaker makes a sweeping generalization about the perceived deceitfulness of the female sex. However, he introduces an exception, suggesting that only one woman is true.

The poem concludes with a paradoxical statement. The woman is considered true because her truth, presumably her faithfulness or sincerity, is so overwhelming that it causes the speaker pain. This suggests a complex relationship where the intensity of love is intertwined with suffering.

 

by John Donn