A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning Themes
Love and Distance: The poem says that true love does not break when people are far apart. The speaker is leaving his wife for a while, but he tells her not to cry or feel sad. He says their souls are joined, so even though their bodies are apart, their love is still strong. He uses the image of a drawing compass to show how they are always connected — one foot stays still, the other moves, but both are connected. Their love is so deep that it will always bring them back together. Physical Love vs. Spiritual Love: The speaker says their love is not based on the body, but on the soul and mind. He criticizes lovers who cry loudly or suffer when they’re apart. Because their love depends on touch and being close. But the speaker’s love is spiritual. His love is too special to show off. He says they don’t need to hold hands or kiss to feel close. Their love is like the quiet motion of the planets — powerful but invisible. True love, he says, is peaceful, private, and doesn’t need the body to survive.