John Donne's poetry reflects many things about him as a poet. Mainly, that his poetry reflects the composition of his character as he writes the poem. In the last years of his life he entered a religious phase which he maintained until his death in 1631. Sonnet 14 is an example of his religious period, where he is "besieged" and asks God to come into his life in a very real way . His use of parallelism, powerful diction and syntax, and paradox presents thoughts on this topic in an unparalleled way and highlights the depth of his feelings in this sonnet. (Please infer that the references to God refer to the Trinity) Donne uses the Trinity in a couple of ways in Sonnet 14. His first example of the Trinity is seen in the second line. The Trinity or the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are characterized in this verse by the words knock, breathe and shine. These words have a biblical background and are justified by New Testament verses of the Bible. Jesus uses a parable in a book of the Bible saying that He knocks on people's hearts and they open the door to Him. The translation of this is that Jesus only enters a person's heart or life if we let Him in. Donne wants Jesus to knock on the door of His life because He is willing to let Him in. God is often referred to as the Person who breathes life into man. The example of this is in the Old Testament, where He breathed life into Adam and Eve, thus creating life within them. Women must believe they have no "life" within themselves. His justification for this comes from the verse that says we are dead to God until we are born again. In our rebirth, He will breathe life or Eternal Life into us. The Holy Spirit will shine through believers and that is...in the center of the card...Satan's Bride herself. Donne also works paradoxically in his sonnet. One of these paradoxes can be "dissolved" when Donne himself is "dissolved" by observing the different meanings of the words fascinate and enrapture. The most obvious paradox of the sonnet is the fact that Donne will only be free if God imprisons him or enslaves him. Donne's use of syntax and diction gives the impression of how powerful and dominant sin and God can be in his life. Sonnet 14 at this point gives a personal look into Donne's soul. Even at this late stage in his life, he still feels that God is absent. However, there is a clear impression that God was once part of his life, but then sin returned and took over again. Donne's reluctance to return to such a lifestyle drives his demand for bondage and imprisonment by God to find the freedom to love and be loved by Him..