Picture Source:

http://www.smh.com.au

/ffximage/2008/01/24/

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With the recent release of Heath Ledger’s last movie “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” I was reminded of his unfortunate demise and death last year. Heath Ledger was found in an apartment in Soho in America dead overnight, the reports claim that he had an accidental overdose of sleeping pills and anti depressants,  It reminded me of how life is so unpredictable. The vast array of natural disasters, sicknesses and other fatal causes, life is really ‘short’. This reminded me of a poem written by John Donne. “Holy Sonnet X” in this difficult type of all poems, Donne still seems to get his point across about how death is short, and unexpected. I believe no matter how much we prepare ourselves; friends and family can never truly be ready for death. I will now share with you the sonnet.

HOLY SONNET X – John Donne

Death, be not proud, though some have called 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 but thy picture[s] 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’rt 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.

In this skilful sonnet Donne expressed his feelings on death, using an impressive art form. He explains about how fate and chance and malice all take part in death. It is possible that Donne refers to war using this Sonnet. However he has not been so naive to think that war is the largest cause of death, having mention to sickness and fate. The use of general sonnet structure of a pace and pattern to each of the lines, in this case every second line being shorter than every first, has been successful in making it easier for the readier to read and understand. Likewise the choice of language and vocabulary has shown an intelligence of the poet, and conveys that Donne is intelligent and can display his deep thoughts through this sonnet. The repetition of ‘rest’ has displayed how a person who has passed on, in whatever form will lay at rest for ever after. The mood of the poem, and tone is generally sombre and melancholy, suiting the scheme effectively. Lastly the rhythm of the sentences and similar word choices and sounds makes the poem flow freely.

The philosophy and beliefs of the sonnet have conveyed this message clearly to me. I have been struck by sickness in my own family lately. So to read this poem, and be reminded of the cruel, callousness death and its impossible timing by Heath Ledger’s demise, has opened my eyes to how special life is to everyone. Reminding me why we are here on the planet for our very short time, to make our impact while we can.

JM