How John Donne Showed his Love John Donne’s poetry has been both ridiculed and praised. One reason for the ridicule is due to the fact that many people believe his work is vulgar, and his discussion of sex may seem improper to some people. Even in this modern age some people may find it a bit offensive. You can imagine what people thought of it in the sixteenth century. His discussion of sex in this “disgusting” manner is more obvious and prevalent in his early work, while he still had many female acquaintances and before he was settled down with his wife. Donne eloped with his underage lover Anne More which in itself was a sca