John Donne (1572-1631), English poet and preacher, is best known for quotes such as “Death be not proud” and “No man is an island” but he also composed a series of what are called Holy Sonnets (where the “death” quote originated, actually). For today’s God Quote I share Donne’s Holy Sonnet XIV…
Holy Sonnets: Batter my heart, three-person’d God
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,Labor to admit you, but oh, to no end;Reason, your viceroy in me, me should defend,But is captiv’d, and proves weak or untrue.Yet dearly I love you, and would be lov’d 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.