The Expiration
The Expiration
Original Text
Donne, John. The Elegies and the Songs and Sonnets of John Donne. Edited by Helen Gardner. London: Oxford University Press, 1965: 36-37.
1So, so, break off this last lamenting kiss,
2 Which sucks two souls, and vapours both away,
3Turn thou ghost that way, and let me turn this,
4 And let ourselves benight our happiest day,
5We ask none leave to love; nor will we owe
6 Any so cheap a death as saying, "Go."
7Go; and if that word have not quite killed thee,
8 Ease me with death, by bidding me go too.
9Or, if it have, let my word work on me,
10 And a just office on a murderer do.
11Except it be too late, to kill me so,
12 Being double dead, going, and bidding, "Go."
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire, assisted by Ana Berdinskikh
RPO Edition
2009
Rhyme
Form