Confined Love (3:58)

(John Donne, 1573-1631)

some man unworthy to be possesor
of old or new love himself being false or weak
thought his pain and shame would be lesser
from womankind he might his anger wreak

hey and thance a low did grow
one should but one man know
but are other creatures so but are other creatures so

are some of the stars by law forbidden
to smile with the list or lend away their light
are birds devorced or are they chidden
if they leave their maid or lie abroad a night.

beasts do no jointures loose though they new lovers choose
but we are made worse than those , but we are made worse than those.

who e`er rigged fair ship to lie in harbours
and not to seek new lands, or not to deal withal
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.
but doth waste with greediness.