The Flea (poem)

"The Flea" by John Donne is a witty metaphysical poem that uses the image of a flea to explore themes of love and seduction. The speaker humorously argues that a tiny flea has mingled the blood of himself and his lover, symbolizing their union. He suggests that killing the flea would be like killing something sacred and that their physical closeness is harmless and natural. Ultimately, the speaker tries to persuade his mistress to view their relationship as insignificant in the grand scheme, urging her to accept his advances with playful reasoning.