Neither account is true; a reading of the poem will show that Donne takes both love and religion seriusly; it will show, further; that the paradox is here his ineviable instrument.
I submit that the only way in which the poet could say what "The Canon...
Neither account is true; a reading of the poem will show that Donne takes both love and religion seriusly; it will show, further; that the paradox is here his ineviable instrument.
I submit that the only way in which the poet could say what "The Canonization" says is by paradox. Indeed, almost any insight important enough to warrant a great poem apparently has to be stated in such terms.