"Hymne to God my God, in My Sicknesse" The poem is probably written late in Donne's life, definitely following his conversion to the Anglican faith. Donne seems to be dying of some incurable illness that the doctors do not know how to cure. He begins by saying that he is coming a holy room, possibly in his funeral. Upon entering this holy room, probably a sanctuary, he joins up with the saints of old which he hopes to join. However, he must "tune the Instrument here at the dore" before entering into the place of the saints. The capitalizing of instrument possibly indicates that the instrument is not necessarily a musical instrument, but more an instrument of the faith, possibly even Donne's own body which is God's instrument used to administer the faith.
             The second stanza paraphrases the doctors vain attempts to cure him before he dies. He compares his body to the stars because the physicians strive to understand his body just as the cosmographers explore and hope to gain insight into the stars. Donne writes that" this is my South-west discoverie," probably referring to the Strait of Magellan, known for its tumultuous winds. Further evidence is given by his saying that "by these streights to die," indicating that the tumultuous winds of life will eventually overwhelm his frail body. However, instead of fearing the winds and tumultuous seas, Donne welcomes them as the entrance into a more peaceful place. After passing through the Strait of Magellan, one comes to the Pacific ocean which is very calm and nice rest following the Strait. Donne even questions whether the west can hurt him. The answer is obviously no because if the Strait could not kill him, then the calm ocean will have no chance.
             However, Donne recognizes that the Pacific Ocean is not his home, but he does not fully know where his true home is. He questions whether Jerusalem is where he ought to live. Donne says that in order to find a final destinati...