Point of View

“The Good-Morrow” is written in first-person present point-of-view. It is addressed to a beloved, like many of Donne's poems, and presents a speaker who is so overwhelmed by his love that he cannot remember who he was before he was part of the relationship. The use of first-person renders the poem an intimate look into the speaker's mind as he puzzles through the paradoxes of love. Furthermore, the use of present tense helps ground the poem in the precise moment of the speaker's thoughts. It places readers in the exact moment of awakening that the two lovers share, inviting readers to also experience this sensation of “the good-morrow” and the sweet new beginnings it brings.

Language and Meaning

The language of "The Good-Morrow” is generally accessible. There is relatively little use of elevated language, meaning that the modern reader has an easier time taking in...