On My First Son by Ben Jonson

Ben Jonson (1572-1637) was an English dramatist and poet, who was a contemporary of Shakespeare. He was born and lived in London, although he claimed he had Scottish blood. He worked as a brick layer and fought for his country in the army, but by the time he was 25 he had joined a theatre company in London, The Admiral’s Men.

On My First Son is a poem about Jonson’s feelings on the death of his eldest son at the age of seven. He says goodbye to his son, and wishes that he had never been a father because of the grief he feels. He then suggests that he should be feeling joy because his son has escaped the cares of the world and is now in heaven.