John Donne
[Batter my heart, three-person’d God, for you] (c. 1609)
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Batter my heart, three-person’d God, for you |
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As yet but knock, breathe, shine, and seek to mend; |
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That I may rise and stand, o’erthrow me, and bend |
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Your force to break, blow, burn, and make me new. |
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I, like an usurp’d town to another due, |
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Labor to admit you, but oh, to no end; |
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Reason, your viceroy in me, me should defend, |
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But is captiv’d, and proves weak or untrue. |
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Yet dearly I love you, and would be lov’d fain, |
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But am betroth’d unto your enemy; |
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Divorce me, untie or break that knot again, |
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Take me to you, imprison me, for I, |
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Except you enthrall me, never shall be free, |
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Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me. |
5. usurp'd: seized and held by force and without right.
7. viceroy: a deputy king; an agent or representative.
9. fain: gladly, willingly.
13. enthrall: put or hold in bondage.