John Donne

For whom the bell tolls (No man is an island)

No man is an island,
Entire of itself.
Each is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manner of thine own
Or of thine friend’s were.
Each man’s death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee.

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Blandt mine bøger findes en kommenteret udgave af Shakespeares Macbeth. Jeg købte den antikvarisk i min gymnasietid. På en side i bogen har jeg med ungdommelig skrift indskrevet ovenstående poem, som min daværende engelsklærer diverterede med….