Well Donne

I have, in recent weeks, neglected to meet my New Year's resolution of memorizing something new each month. However, since I had doubled up in previous months, I'm still on track for having 12 new "passages" by year's end. As I went back and reviewed them today, I realized that 7 out of 8 have been poetry...so why mess with a good thing? I have chosen another from one of my favorite poets, John Donne.

Holy Sonnet XIV

by: John Donne

Batter my heart, three-personed 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 usurped town, to another due,

Labour to admit you, but Oh, to no end.

Reason, your viceroy in me, me should defend,

But is captived, and proves weak or untrue.

Yet dearly I love you, and would be loved fain,

But am betrothed 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.