Why are Donne's poems called metaphysical poems?

When we begin exploring John Donne's verse, the description of him as a 'metaphysical' poet is inescapable and so it's worth considering in detail. read more

Metaphysical Poetry is defined more in terms of style than content or a governing ideology. John Donne, Andrew Marvell, George Herbert, Henry Vaughn, Richard Crashaw and Abraham cowley are the poets in contention. The word 'Metaphysical' came later, in the contemporary period, these poems were called 'strong lines'. read more

The best and most essential poems by John Donne (1572-1631) John Donne’s poetry is a curious mix of contradictions. At once spiritual and metaphysical, it is also deeply embedded in the physicality of bodies: love as a physical, corporeal experience as well as a spiritual high. read more