John Donne's Negative Love

[midwest]

I am new on this forum because I need help in finding the meaning to this poem. John Donne generally writes relating to love and the death of his wife. I think this poem Negative Love could be related to working past this trauma but please if you have any ideas HELP ME!!!!! I am doing this for a class and I need to be able to tie in author's techniques with the overall meaning. THANKS!

I never stoop'd so low, as they
Which on an eye, cheeke, lip, can prey,
Seldom to them, which soare no higher
Then vertue or the minde to 'admire
For sense, and understanding may
Know, what gives fuell to their fire:
My love, though silly, is more brave,
For may I misse, when ere I crave,
If I know yet, what I would have.

If that be simply perfectest
Which can by no way be exprest
But Negatives, my love is so.
To All, which all love, I say no.
If any who deciphers best,
What we know not, our selves, can know,
Let him teach mee that nothing: This
As yet my ease, and comfort is,
Thous I speed not, I cannot misse.

[trismegistus]

Well for technique stuff you should definitely mention his repetition of "negative" words to reinforce his idea. (e.g. no, never, nothing) More fun (and typical of Donne) is his associated word play with "know."

[mono]

A talent I feel Donne has always flaunted, with good cause, of course, seems tying transcendental and metaphysical concepts in his poetry. Often he compares whichever singular topic he chose for a poem with nature, though not as much in this poem. Through many of his works, however, they either proceed in a progressive story-like manner, and/or conclude with a quotable moral: "Death, thou shalt die," for example.
Welcome to the forum, by the way, midwest.

[midwest]

Thanks, this helped a lot actually. It is strange how after you have the aide of someone else you begin to understand things better, at least in my case. This one tripped me up a bit so thank you for moving me along :p