The Message

The Message

Original Text
Donne, John. The Elegies and the Songs and Sonnets of John Donne. Edited by Helen Gardner. London: Oxford University Press, 1965: 30-31.
1Send home my long strayed eyes to me,
2Which (Oh) too long have dwelt on thee;
3Yet since there they have learn'd such ill,
4       Such forc’d fashions,
5       And false passions,
6              That they be
7              Made by thee
8Fit for no good sight, keep them still.
9Send home my harmless heart again,
10Which no unworthy thought could stain ;
11Which if it be taught by thine
12       To make jestings
13       Of protestings,
14              And break both
15              Word and oath,
16Keep it, for then 'tis none of mine.
17Yet send me back my heart and eyes,
18That I may know, and see thy lies,
19And may laugh and joy, when thou
20       Art in anguish
21       And dost languish
22              For some one
23              That will none,
24Or prove as false as thou art now.
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire, assisted by Ana Berdinskikh
RPO Edition
2009
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