Holy Sonnet IX: If Poisonous Minerals, And If That Tree

John Donne

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If poisonous minerals, and if that tree
Whose fruit threw death on else immortal us,
If lecherous goats, if serpents envious
Cannot be damned, alas, why should I be?
Why should intent or reason, born in me,
Make sins, else equal, in me more heinous?
And Mercy being easy, and glorious
To God; in his stern wrath, why threatens he?
But who am I, that dare dispute with thee
O God? Oh! of thine only worthy blood,
And my tears, make a heavenly Lethean flood,
And drown in it my sin's black memory;
That thou remember them, some claim as debt,
I think it mercy, if thou wilt forget.

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Comments1
  • lillyput

    Wow, this one's deffeinitely thought provoking. Makes you really question sin, what's worthy of punishment, and god's mercy. Also love the idea of 'drowning' memories of sin to be forgiven. Really hits homes how human and flawed we all are. Absolutely beautiful write-up.