John Donne's poem "Sweetest Love, I Do Not Goe" is written to comfort his lover as he prepares for a long departure. He likens this departure to their eventual deaths, implying that it is best if they prepare for this eventuality now.
This may seem like a cruel or insensitive topic to bring up with one's love. However, Donne fills this short poem with many comforting ideas for his partner to consider. He compares himself to the sun, which leaves every evening only to swiftly return the next day. Here Donne is saying that he will not be gone from his love forever, but that they will be reunited. He will return even swifter than the sun since he has her to motivate him. The poet points out that people are powerless to control their fate and prevent death. Therefore, she should not mourn for him, as that would only hurt him more. He ends the poem by assuring his love that their parting is not permanent. Their love for each other is too strong for that.
In this poem, written in anticipation of his own death, Donne consoles his wife by assuring her that he is not leaving her "for weariness of thee." Likewise, he does not expect that he will ever find a "fitter" love, meaning that even in death he will still love her and think of her.
He realizes that she will weep over him when he is gone, but he also describes her as "the greater part of me" and indicates that she should not "waste" herself in mourning over him for too long. It would, the poet says, be the best thing she could do for him if she were able to get over his death to an extent, and go on living. Death is not the end for either of them, so Donne does not fear its approach.
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