Metaphysical Conceits: Lalon Shah and John Do...

Metaphysical Conceits: Lalon Shah and John Donne

Author Name : Sanjana Shahnaj, Md. Anisur Rahman

ABSTRACT

Lalon Shah and John Donne are the two mega stars in the literary vista of the two parts of the world. Lalon Shah is basically a mystic Bangladeshi Baul and Donne is a 16^th Century English poet. Though they are poles apart both geographically and in age difference, they share many things in common. Both of them drifted from prevailing religious views and traditional literary practices. John Donne and Lalon Shah have also a wonderful similarity regarding their life and persuasion of their poetic career. Both of them had to bag bitter experience in their life which has left a deep mark in their literary works. John Donne pioneered and popularized the metaphysical school of poetry whereas Lalon Shah is the founder of a very specialized branch of Bangali folk songs which were chiefly composed orally in his life time. Both of them exercised a tremendous influence over their successors and followers.  Love, religion, faith, soul, God, death etc. are the recurring issues in their poems. One of the most excellent aspects of metaphysical school of poetry is its abundant exhibition of metaphysical conceits.  Mystic and love lyrics of Lalon Shah, the greatest Bangladeshi mystic Baul, are also replete with metaphysical conceits. The aim of this essay is to make a comparative study between Donne and Lalon investigating the use of metaphysical conceits in their love lyrics and devotional poetry.

Keywords:Metaphysical conceits; Mystic and love lyrics; devotional poetry; religious conviction