Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, HOLY SONNET: 9, by JOHN DONNE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

HOLY SONNET: 9, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: If poisonous [or poysonous] minerals, and if that tree
Last Line: I think it mercy, if thou wilt forget.
Variant Title(s): Holy Sonnet: 5
Subject(s): Forgiveness; Mercy; Clemency


If poisonous minerals, and if that tree,
Whose fruit threw death on else immortal us,
If lecherous goats, if serpents envious
Cannot be damned; alas, why should I be?
Why should intent or reason, born in me,
Make sins, else equal, in me more heinous?
And mercy being easy, and glorious
To God, in his stern wrath, why threatens he?
But who am I, that dare dispute with thee
O God? Oh! of thine only worthy blood,
And my tears, make a heavenly lethean flood,
And drown in it my sin's black memory;
That thou remember them, some claim as debt,
I think it mercy, if thou wilt forget.




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