Holy Sonnet 10: "Death, Be Not Proud" by John Donne – Original Poem and Translation to Modern English
In this poem, Donne speaks to Death as if it were a person, telling it not to feel proud or powerful. Discover why.
Death, Be Not Proud
By John Donne
Death, be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so;
For those whom thou think’st thou dost overthrow
Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me.
From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be,
Much pleasure; then from thee much more must flow,
And soonest our best men with thee do go,
Rest of their bones, and soul’s delivery.
Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men,
And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell;
And poppy or charms can make us sleep as well
And better than thy stroke; why swell’st thou then?
One short sleep past, we wake eternally,
And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die.
Death, Be Not Proud (in Simple English)
Death don't be proud,
Even though some call you powerful and scary,
You’re not.
The people you think you defeat don’t really die,
And you can’t kill me either.
Rest and sleep are just little previews of you,
And they bring comfort, so you must bring even more.
The best among us go with you quickly,
But only to find peace for their bodies and freedom for their souls.
You’re not in control—
You’re a servant to fate, chance, kings, and desperate people,
Hanging around with sickness, war, and poison.
Drugs and magic can make us sleep just as well,
So why are you so proud?
After a short sleep, we’ll wake up forever,
And Death, you’ll be dead.
Notes on Holy Sonet 10: "Death, Be Not Proud", by John Donne
In “Death, be not proud,” Donne challenges the idea that Death is powerful or frightening. By the end of the poem, he shows that Death is only a temporary state before eternal life.
Donne’s message is clear: Death has no real power, and we have no reason to fear it. This perspective gives a sense of peace and hope, making Death seem small and unthreatening.
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