Many of the poems are believed to have been written in 1609 and 1610, during a period of great personal distress and strife for Donne who suffered a combination of physical, emotional, and financial hardships during this time.
Viele der Gedichte sollen 1609 und 1610 in einer Zeit großer persönlicher Not für Donne geschrieben worden sein, der in dieser Zeit physische, emotionale und finanziellen Probleme hatte.