Dear Molly,
I like your idea of the book of poems. If it’s not too late I would like to contribute one of my favorites. It’s John Donne’s sonnet beginning, “Batter my heart, three-personed God.” I love its powerful expression of God’s grace — so different from so much sloppy, religious verse!
I am spending the summer in Mallorca where we have an old farm house. I’m also adrift for lack of good correspondence — no sarcasm, nor many reference books, etc. We are near the town where George Sand entertained Chopin. I hope this finally reaches you and with it send best wishes for the success of the poetry book.
HOLY SONNET XIV
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 Oh, 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 ever chaste, except You ravish me.
— John Donne
