Attempt a critical appreciation of the poem, "The Good-Morrow" ( MEG 101 ) ( STUDY OF JOHN DONNE )

"The Good-Morrow" is a poem by John Donne that celebrates the completeness of love and the unity of souls. The poem is characterized by its use of metaphysical conceits, which are extended comparisons between two seemingly dissimilar objects or ideas. The central conceit of the poem is that the lovers' souls are like the legs of a compass, in that they are separate but always connected.

The poem is structured around a series of questions and answers, which give it a conversational tone. The first stanza introduces the central conceit of the compass, while the second stanza explores the idea of a new world that has opened up to the speaker as a result of his love. In the third stanza, the speaker argues that their love is so complete that it has made their past lives seem like nothing, and that their love will continue to grow in the future.

The fourth and final stanza is a direct address to the lovers themselves, encouraging them to continue to explore and discover the depths of their love. The poem is notable for its use of elaborate imagery and paradoxical statements, such as the idea that "nothing else is." Overall, "The Good-Morrow" is a powerful expression of the depth and completeness of true love.