PROVENANCE Private Collection, Auckland

The Tryst Loves Growth I scarce believe my love to be so pure As I had thought it was, Because it doth endure Vicissitude, and season, as the grasse; Me thinks I lyed all winter, when I swore, My love was infinite, if spring make'it more. But if this medicine, love, which cures all sorrow With more, not only bee no quintessence, But mixt of all stuffes, paining soule, or sense, And of the Sunne his working vigour borrow, Love's not so pure, and abstract, as they use To say, which have no Mistresse but their Muse, But as all else, being elemented too, Love sometimes would contemplate, sometimes do. And yet no greater, but more eminent Love by the Spring is growne; As, in the firmament, Starres by the Sunne are not inlarg'd, but showne, Gentle love deeds, as blossomes on a bough, From loves awakened root do bud out now. If as in water stir'd more circles bee Produc'd by one, love such additions take, Those like so many spheares, but one heaven make, For, they are all concentrique unto thee, And though each spring doe adde to love new heate, As princes doe in times of action get New taxes, and remit them not in peace, No winter shall abate the springs increase. John Donne, the pre-eminent representative of the metaphysical poets, his works are noted for their strong, sensual style and include sonnets, love poems, religious poems, Latin translations, epigrams, elegies, songs, satires and sermons. The poetry is noted for its vibrancy of language and inventiveness of metaphor. He wrote secular poems as well as erotic and love poems and is particularly famous for his mastery of metaphysical conceits.

Illustrated in Ray Ching's book, Fabled Lands

EXHIBITED Ray Ching The Voyage ARTIS Gallery, Auckland, 2018