Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, HOLY SONNET: 14, by JOHN DONNE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

HOLY SONNET: 14, by             Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Batter my heart, three-personed god; for, you
Last Line: Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me.
Variant Title(s): "holy Sonnet: 171;to E. Of D. With Six Holy Sonnets: 10;the Soul To Her Rescuer;""batter My Heart, Three-personed God; For, You"";
Subject(s): Catholics; Christianity; Freedom; Salvation; Roman Catholics; Catholicism; Liberty


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,
Labor 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.




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