John Donne has this quite brilliant sonnet known simply as Sonnet 74. Like most of John Donne's poetry, it rewards the deepest of reflection with hope and challenge. He really was a master at weaving Paradox, Reason, Mystery and Truth together into these beautiful word-knotts that capture the enigmas of the spiritual life with stunning clarity.
I remember sitting around a campfire with some friends a while ago, and one of them, out of the blue, asked if anyone knew any poems they could recite. Into the awkward hush that followed that too unusual request, another friend spoke these words of John Donne.
Sonnet 74Batter my heart, three person'd God; for, you
As yet but knocke, breathe, shine, and seeke to mend;
That I may rise, and stand, o'erthrow mee,'and bend
Your force, to breake, blowe, burn and make me new.
I, like an usurpt towne, to'another due,
Labour to'admit you, but Oh, to no end,
Reason your viceroy in mee, mee should defend,
But is captiv'd, and proves weake or untrue.
Yet dearely'I love you,'and would be loved faine,
But am betroth'd unto your enemie:
Divorce mee,'untie, or breake that knot againe;
Take mee to you, imprison mee, for I
Except you'enthrall mee, never shall be free,
Nor ever chaste, except you ravish mee.
One of the first songs I ever wrote was a musical response to this poem. Here's an old recording of it (2004), for the record.
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