Sonnet 10, Adam's Song, Jumper

3 Pages 870 Words

Punk music, adult contemporary, and metaphysical poetry; it looks like these are all from different corners of the universe. Yet, “Sonnet 10” by John Donne, “Adam’s Song” by Blink 182, and “Jumper” by Third Eye Blind has a much closer relationship. These poems all agree that death can be an opportunity to a better life.

John Donne (1573-1631) was one of the most renown, English poets of the Metaphysical period. An extremely religious man, Donne’s poems express his yearning for God and his obsession with salvation and death. These poems became known as the “Holy Sonnets.” For instance, Sonnet 10 emphasizes Donne’s belief in the immorality of the soul. Throughout the entire Sonnet, Donne speaks directly to death. Donne’s personification of death brings the ever so powerful and fearful being to a level equal of the common man. In the opening lines, Donne says “Death, be not proud, though some have called thee/Mighty and dreadful, for thou are not so;” Moreover, Donne believes that he cannot be killed; his body may be taken away but his soul will live on. “[P]oor death, nor yet canst thou kill me.”

In the recent past, Blink-182 won a Teen Choice Award, a Blockbuster Music Award, and a MTV Award. In Europe they received an MTV Europe Award for Best New Act. They performed on Saturday Night Live and the Tonight Show (twice), appeared in American Pie and opened the Billboard Music Awards. The band also graced the covers of Rolling Stone, Alternative Press (twice), Teen People, Teen and CosmoGirl, just to name a few. With a forum of the magnitude, it is quite easy for Blink 182 to express their ideas and opinions. “Adam’s Song”, in particular is considered the most provocative and serious song they had ever written. Known for their immature behaviour and amusing lyrics, “Adam’s Song” deals with the touchy issue of teen suicide. The song opens with the striking line “I never thought I’d d...