John Donne's Ascension Sonnet: From "La Corona"

Salute the last and everlasting day,
Joy at th' uprising of this Sun, and Son,
Ye whose true tears, or tribulation
Have purely wash'd, or burnt your drossy clay.
Behold, the Highest, parting hence away,
Lightens the dark clouds, which He treads upon;
Nor doth He by ascending show alone,
But first He, and He first enters the way.
O strong Ram, which hast batter'd heaven for me!
Mild Lamb, which with Thy Blood hast mark'd the path!
Bright Torch, which shinest, that I the way may see!
O, with Thy own Blood quench Thy own just wrath;
And if Thy Holy Spirit my Muse did raise,
Deign at my hands this crown of prayer and praise.

John Donne’s magnificent sonnet cycle is entitled “La Corona,” or “The Crown.” A sonnet crown is sequence of sonnets concerned with a single theme. Each of the sonnets explores one aspect of the theme. The sonnets are not just connected by theme, but they are also connected poetically. The last line of each sonnet is the first line of the next sonnet. And so, after an introductory sonnet, we move through our Lord’s life: the annunciation, nativity, the Boy Jesus at the temple, crucifixion, resurrection, and the ascension. And each sonnet is connected to the last one, both thematically and by the last line of the preceding sonnet.

One poetic device that Donne employs is called the metaphysical conceit. A metaphysical conceit is a complex, and often lofty literary device that makes a far-stretched comparison between a spiritual aspect of a person and a physical thing in the world. The first example of this is that we have the Son of God, Who ascends to heaven, just like the sun rises in the morning sky. The images of the Son as a sun and a torch teach us that Christ is the Light of the World, which lights the way to heaven. The “darkened clouds” work on both a literal and spiritual level. Our sin, which darkened the heavens is now dispelled by Christ. This enlightening happens both objectively in the ascension but also subjectively in our hearts.

But Christ’s ascension not only shows the way to heaven by illumination. Christ has opened heaven for us by waging spiritual warfare. Donne uses a beautiful and complex image of Jesus as a ram. Christ is a battering ram, knocking down heaven’s pearly gates on our behalf. But this image of a ram is also nuanced when he uses “mild Lamb” in the next line. Here, we see that Christ is both a battering ram, but also a sacrificial ram, whose blood quenches “Thy own just wrath.” This collage of images recalls warfare, forgiveness, the Old Testament sacrificial system and its connection to the crucifixion of Christ.

I encourage all of you to not only read this poem, but to learn it by heart. It’s imagery is not only beautiful, but it accurately and poignantly teaches us how important and necessary Christ’s ascension was for us.