Poetry
John Donne, 1633
The poet who argued with God, mapped the body, and made a flea a seduction speech—read him for wit that still draws blood.
John Donne
1572–1631
He secretly married Anne More in 1601, was briefly imprisoned for it, and later became Dean of St Paul’s—the same man who wrote 'Batter my heart.'
Feels like love, longing and faith.
What if surrender is the only route out of captivity?
Batter my heart, three-person’d God; for youAs yet but knock; breathe, shine, and seek to mend;That I may rise, and stand, o’erthrow me, and bendYour force, to break, blow, burn, and make me new.I, like an usurp’d town, to another due,Labour to admit you, but O, 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 betroth’d 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. Books by John Donne
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