ed (5). By these arguments, the narrator hopes to convince his lover that there is no reason to be sad about his absence; rather she should accept this “earthquake” (9). The idea of an earthquake is used to symbolize a matter of misfortune beyond one’s control. Dwelling on their unchangeable misfortune would only cause unnecessary sorrow. The narrator goes on to describe their love as “Dull sublunary lovers’ love,” in the forth quatrain (13). Sublunary meaning everything below the moon or earthly, something that is subject to change and is definitely something far from perfect (13). This idea of their love being flawed does not seem to go along with the theme in the poem. The theme of the poem is very reassuring of their love’s security. It is almost as if the narrator is trying to show his lover that he realizes their relationship is perishable. Donne goes on to explain how even thought their love is going to change, in the physical sense, their souls will still be together (14). Their love consists of three parts: body, soul, and mind, not just body. He states that they have “a love so much refined,” no distance could Bentley 3change their bond as one (17). In quatrain six, Donne uses words that reflect those used in marriage ceremonies in which two become one, so the “two souls” of the lovers are joined together (21). The narrator explains to his love that there is not “A breach, but an expansion,” in their relationship (23). The author tells his lover not to worry while he is gone, but acknowledges the fact that this “expansion” is stretching their love thin and causing it to become more fragile. Quatrain seven, in my opinion, sets off the deepest and most beautiful part of the poem. From here on the narrator provides...
