Camille Guthrie
Not the Wife of John Donne
“And her soul early into heaven ravished,
Wholly in heavenly things my mind is set”
John Donne Holy Sonnets: Since she whom
I lov’d hath paid her last debt
Boy, am I happy I’m not the wife of John Donne
Who had twelve children with him in sixteen years
Anne More, always pregnant breastfeeding or burying
Another child Francis Nicholas and Mary died before ten
Feeding changing holding washing scolding teaching
Constance John George Lucy Bridget Margaret
In a country shack loaned by her cousin after they married
At Christmas in secret to piss off his boss—her dad
The Lieutenant of the Tower & Lord Keeper of the Great Seal
Who sent the priest, witness, and groom to Fleet prison
John Donne—Anne Donne—Un-done, he wrote to her
Her father kept her dowry for eight more years of poverty
God, just imagine the laundry the noise the smell!
Morning sickness back labor fatigue post-partum depression
Cracked nipples headaches urinary tract infections
Fevers rashes night sweats blocked milk ducts
He spent his early inheritance on womanizing & pastimes
She had no time to dwell in paradoxes & dislocations
Translate from the Latin, write a satire, or contemplate suicide
As when Donne realized the death of his child was one
Less mouth to feed and he couldn’t afford the coffin
Anne dies five days after giving birth to Elizabeth
Who put the kids to bed as he begged God for more love?
Yes, metaphysical poets are devils, of flesh, put thee out