Monday, October 06, 2008

Adaption of "Batter my Heart"

The director of my parish's RCIA program asked me to provide us with today's opening prayer. I wanted to share the "Holy Sonnet XVI" of John Donne, aka "Batter my Heart". However, I discovered that the language of the poem is a little difficult, so I took some creative liberties and adapted it. First, the original:

Batter my heart, three person'd God; for You
As yet but knock, breathe, shine, and seek to mend;
That I may rise, and stand, o'erthrow me, and bend
Your force, to break, blow, burn and make me new.

I, like an usurped town, to another due,
Labour to admit You, but Oh, to no end,
Reason your viceroy in me, me should defend,
But is captiv'd, and proves weak or untrue,

Yet dearly I love You, and would be loved fain,
But am betrothed unto your enemy:
Divorce me, untie, or break that knot again,
Take me to You, imprison me, for I

Except You enthral me, never shall be free,
Nor ever chaste, except You ravish me.

Now, my version:

Do break me down, my triune God; for You
are too polite; too gently offer help;
So I may stand and walk, destroy my self,
With force do crack, blow, burn, and make me new.

My soul is occupied long past her due,
She longs for you, her guest, but to no end,
Your soldier, reason, her protection lends,
But reason, weak and captive, proves untrue.

Yet dearly do I love you, not in vain,
But am betrothed unto your enemy;
Divorce, untie, or break that knot again,
Take me to You, imprison me, for I

Unless enslaved by You, shall ne’er be free,
Nor ever chaste, except You ravish me.

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