Jews Love: Metaphysical Poetry

John Donne, the first poetic feminist. So what if his intent was less than honorable?

CONFINED LOVE.
by John Donne

Some man unworthy to be possessor
Of old or new love, himself being false or weak,
Thought his pain and shame would be lesser,
If on womankind he might his anger wreak ;
And thence a law did grow,
One might but one man know ;
But are other creatures so?

Are sun, moon, or stars by law forbidden
To smile where they list, or lend away their light?
Are birds divorced or are they chidden
If they leave their mate, or lie abroad a night?
Beasts do no jointures lose
Though they new lovers choose ;
But we are made worse than those.

Who e'er rigg'd fair ships to lie in harbours,
And not to seek lands, or not to deal with all?
Or built fair houses, set trees, and arbours,
Only to lock up, or else to let them fall?
Good is not good, unless
A thousand it possess,
But doth waste with greediness.

There you have it: a woman should be allowed to leave her husband and have carnal relations with John Donne. The poem reveals that all restrictive legislation stems from male feelings of inadequacy and impotence; that man legislates sex and marriage because he is unable to secure a woman without legal coercion. When you vote next week, remember that. Makes you think differently about the controversy surrounding gay marriage, doesn't it?

Next week: Jews love Halevi (you thought only the goyim wrote about love?).