Donne created new forms of lyrical, satirical, epithalamic, and religious poetry, while his independence of opinion, the concise expression that encompasses contrary moods, passionate paradoxes, bursts of cynicism, and bitter humor make his work particularly appealing to the mindset of the twentieth century. His poetry reflects every stage of his development from the pirate Jack Donne who shipwrecked with Ralegh against the Spaniards and spent wild nights on the streets of London, to the penitent John Donne who became the Head of St. Paul’s and the most distinguished preacher of his time. The edition of Donne's English poems by C. A. Patrides is undoubtedly the most complete and scholarly available.