Wednesday, June 11, 2003

a desperate longing for renewal, in 1630

Batter my heart, three-person'd God, for you
As yet but knock, breathe, shine, and seek to mend;
That I may rise and stand, o'erthrow me, and bend
Your force to break, blow, burn, and make me new.
I, like an usurp'd town to'another due,
Labor to'admit you, but oh, to no end;
Reason, your viceroy in me, me should defend,
But is captiv'd, and proves weak or untrue.
Yet dearly'I love you, and would be lov'd fain,
But am betroth'd unto your enemy;
Divorce me,'untie or break that knot again,
Take me to you, imprison me, for I,
Except you'enthrall me, never shall be free,
Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me.


Holy Sonnet XVI: Batter My Heart. John Donne (1572-1631)

2 comments:

  1. Uh... I think that's Sonnet XIV not XVI... very good, I think I shall "steal" it on my blog! :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. oops, sorry bout that.

    I often wonder what marketing genius came up with, "Hey, I know, let's use our letters for counting too!"



    I think of that every time a good TV program or movie ends.

    ReplyDelete



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