Lyric Poem · Peace
Holy Sonnet XIX: Oh, To Vex Me, Contraries Meet In One
by John Donne
Oh, to vex me, contraries meet in one:
Inconstancy unnaturally hath begot
A constant habit; that when I would not
I change in vows, and in devotion.
As humorous is my contrition
As my profane love, and as soon forgot:
As riddlingly distempered, cold and hot,
As praying, as mute; as infinite, as none.
I durst not view heaven yesterday; and today
In prayers and flattering speeches I court God:
Tomorrow I quake with true fear of his rod.
So my devout fits come and go away
Like a fantastic ague; save that here
Those are my best days, when I shake with feare.
This poem is in the public domain.
“Holy Sonnet XIX: Oh, To Vex Me, Contraries Meet In One” by John Donne — quilloak.com/poems/holy-sonnet-xix-oh-to-vex-me-contraries-meet-in-one
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