A Sheaf of Snakes Used heretofore to be my Seal. Divine Poems. John Donne. 1896. The Poems of John Donne

John Donne (1572–1631). The Poems of John Donne. 1896.

Divine Poems

A Sheaf of Snakes Used heretofore to be my Seal


The Crest of Our Poor Family ADOPTED in God’s family and so
Our old coat lost, unto new arms I go. 1
The Cross—my seal at baptism 2—spread below
Does, by that form, into an Anchor grow.
Crosses grow Anchors; bear, as thou shouldest do	5
Thy Cross, and that Cross grows an Anchor too.
But He that makes our Crosses Anchors thus,
Is Christ, who there is crucified for us.
Yet may I, with this, 3 my first serpents hold;
God gives new blessings, and yet leaves the old;	10
The serpent may, as wise, my pattern be;
My poison, as he feeds on dust, that’s me.
And, as he rounds the earth to murder sure,
My death he is, 4 but on the Cross, my cure.
Crucify nature then, and then implore	15
All grace from Him, crucified there before;
Then 5 all is Cross, and that Cross Anchor grown;
This seal’s a catechism, not a seal alone.
Under that little seal great gifts I send,
Works, 6 and prayers, pawns, and fruits of a friend.	20
And may that saint which rides in 7 our great seal,
To you who bear his name, great bounties deal! 8

Note 1. l. 2. Walton (1658), My old coat lost, into new arms I go [back]

Note 2. l. 3. Walt., in baptism [back]

Note 3. l. 9. Walt., Yet with this, I may [back]

Note 4. l. 14. Walt., He is my death [back]

Note 5. l. 17. Walt., When [back]

Note 6. l. 20. Walt., Both works [back]

Note 7. l. 21. Walt., that rides on [back]

Note 8. l. 22. Walt., To you that bear his name large bounty deal [back]