Song: Go and catch a falling star (John Donne) Critical Appreciation

This poem by John Donne is simply titled "Song", but to distinguish it from the other songs and sonnets Donne wrote, it is often listed by its first line: "Goe and catch a falling starre." It falls within the category of poetry that most authorities term Donne's "love poems" or his "younger works," but there is no accurate way to determine when Donne wrote it. He did not publish during his lifetime (although his poems were often circulated in manuscript), so they are notoriously difficult to date.

In the first stanza of the poem, Donne states a number of impossible tasks; he compares finding an honest woman to these tasks. He cleverly states that to find a woman who is honest in love is as difficult as it is to catch 'a falling star'. The impossible tasks also include conceiving a child with a mandrake plant, gaining full knowledge of the past, solving the mystery of thé Devil's cloven hoof (why is the Satan's hoof split?) and learning the art of hearing a mermaid singing without getting tempted to dive into the sea. In a sarcastic comment, Donne says that finding an honest woman is as difficult as living without the pain of envy. Envy is the greed and lust of other people who would secretly long for his woman. He adds sarcastically to the list of impossible tasks, the task of finding the wind that brings prosperity to the honest minded people; he means that only dishonest people do well, and that to have an honest mind is to fail.


In the second stanza, the subject matter is an imaginary journey of ten thousand days. Donne imagines a seeker spending a lifetime, until he has gray hairs, looking for an honest woman. Donne believes that despite all the strange sights the traveller will see, he won't come across an honest woman.


In the third stanza, the thought changes to the more positive idea of finding an honest woman. If the traveller finds one, he is to report him immediately. Donne says such a journey, 'pilgrimage' would be 'sweet'. But then, Donne changes his mind, and says, he wouldn't travel next door to meet her as by the time he arrives even that far, she will have slept with two or three other men. He says that a woman would only remain honest at most for as long as it takes to write the letter saying, 'you have found her.'


Donne's poem actually reveals the impossibilities of finding a woman who is both virtuous, true and fair. This is seen as paradoxical as it contrasts the Petrarchan conventions at the time, placing women at the height of all greatness. Donne arguably intends the poem to be a Satire, as he uses biting irony for comical effect, usually sarcasm as a way to expose and humiliate women. According to some critics, Donne is actually drawing a parallel between his search for a metaphysical experience in religion with his yearning for a similar experience in love. Whatever may be the interpretation, it may be concluded that this poem is a great metaphysical poem and an ideal example of a dramatic monologue.


Here's the full text from the poem:

Song: Go and catch a falling star (John Donne)

Go and catch a falling star, 

    Get with child a mandrake root, 

Tell me where all past years are, 

    Or who cleft the devil's foot, 

Teach me to hear mermaids singing, 

Or to keep off envy's stinging, 

            And find 

            What wind 

Serves to advance an honest mind. 

If thou be'st born to strange sights, 

    Things invisible to see, 

Ride ten thousand days and nights, 

    Till age snow white hairs on thee, 

Thou, when thou return'st, wilt tell me, 

All strange wonders that befell thee, 

            And swear, 

            No where 

Lives a woman true, and fair. 

If thou find'st one, let me know, 

    Such a pilgrimage were sweet; 

Yet do not, I would not go, 

    Though at next door we might meet; 

Though she were true, when you met her, 

And last, till you write your letter, 

            Yet she 

            Will be 

False, ere I come, to two, or three.