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John Donne

That Time and Absence proves
Rather helps than hurts to loves

ABSENCE, hear thou my protestation
    Against thy strength,
    Distance and length:
Do what thou canst for alteration,
    For hearts of truest mettle
    Absence doth join and Time doth settle.

Who loves a mistress of such quality,
    His mind hath found
    Affection’s ground
Beyond time, place, and all mortality.
    To hearts that cannot vary
    Absence is present, Time doth tarry.

My senses want their outward motion
    Which now within
    Reason doth win,
Redoubled by her secret notion:
    Like rich men that take pleasure
    In hiding more than handling treasure.

By Absence this good means I gain,
    That I can catch her
    Where none can watch her,
In some close corner of my brain:
    There I embrace and kiss her,
    And so enjoy her and none miss her.

About the poet

John DonneJohn Donne
1573-1631

 
By the same poet
A Burnt Ship
The Flea
The Sun Rising
The Apparition
Lovers’ Infiniteness
The Good-Morrow
The Relic
A Lame Begger
Stay, O Sweet
Death
Song
The Ecstasy
The Dream
The Funeral
A Hymn to God the Father
 
Related books
John Donne at amazon.co.uk

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