John Donne was an English poet, satirist, lawyer and cleric in the Church of England. He died March 31, 1631, 382 years ago this Easter Sunday, and is buried in St. Paul’s Cathedral. He is perhaps best known for his reflection on our connection,
No man is an island,
Entire of itself….
Each man's death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee.
Another memorable piece of his work is from his Holy Sonnets. Sonnet Number 10, known as Death Be Not Proud begins with this line,
Death, be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadful, for thou are not so;
And concludes with this faith affirmation:
One short sleep past, we wake eternally,
And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die.
This Sunday is Easter, the day we celebrate the death of death! The bell is tolling for us to share the joy of this grandest day of the year.
