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 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 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 even chaste, except you ravish me.

Poet: John Donne
Poem: Holy Sonnet XIV: Batter My Heart, Three-Personed God

Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, Holy Sonnet XIV: Batter My Heart, Three-Personed God, has received 20 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own. Of course you can also always discuss poems by John Donne with others on the Poetry Connection poetry forum!