Not to be confused with “The First Anniversarie,” a completely different poem, “The Anniversarie” celebrates what I take to be the first anniversary of Donne’s marriage to Ann Donne. No one knows which, if any, of Donne’s Songs and Sonnets are addressed to or inspired by his wife, so perhaps I may be forgiven my speculation. Note that this perfect kingdom has two monarchs. Presumably they reign over each other, as well as over the faithful subjects who look to them as examples of a perfected love.

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