Spiritual Songs and Lamentations

Michael Drayton (1563–1631), probably the bestselling English poet of his era, wrote prolifically in many different genres. He is remembered particularly for his love sonnets (“Since there’s no help, come, let us kiss and part...”) and historical poems (“Fair stood the wind for France...”). “One of the most lovable of our elder poets” (in A. H. Bullen’s much-quoted description), he was buried in Westminster Abbey.

John Donne (1572-1631) was an English poet, satirist, philosopher, and chaplain who is considered a founder of the Metaphysical Poets, a group of writers characterized by their ability to coax new perspective through paradoxical images, inventive syntax, and imagery from art, philosophy, and religion using an extended metaphor known as a conceit. Donne’s works are notable for their realistic and sensual style and include sonnets, love poetry, religious poems, Latin translations, epigrams, elegies, songs, satires, and sermons. He is firmly established as one of the greatest poets in the English language, strongly influencing writers of the seventeenth century. He died in 1631 and was buried at St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Evan Blackmore, a psychiatrist, public speaker, radio broadcaster, and editor and translator of classic works of literature and philosophy, has published recordings of many poems ranging in date from the Renaissance to the twentieth century. Much of his work during the past forty-five years has been done in collaboration with his wife, Marie, who often records with him.

Marie and Evan Blackmore have worked as editors and translators of classic works of literature and philosophy, and have published audio recordings of many poems ranging in date from the Renaissance to the twentieth century.