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
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