Donne fully indulges his love of paradox in this poem. At his best, though, Donne lights on a paradox he seems to have invented, but in reality has only discovered. Listen carefully to this poem, several times, and if my reading holds up you’ll gradually become aware that a fundamental question of identity, commitment, and fidelity underlies Donne’s verbal gymnastics. This one sneaks up on you: “Lovers’ Infiniteness,” by John Donne.

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