The Expiration

By John Donne 1572–1631 John Donne

So, so breake off this last lamenting kisse,

Which sucks two soules, and vapours Both away,

Turne thou ghost that way, and let mee turne this,

And let our selves benight our happiest day,

We ask’d none leave to love; nor will we owe

Any, so cheape a death, as saying, Goe;

Goe; and if that word have not quite kil’d thee,

Ease mee with death, by bidding mee goe too.

Oh, if it have, let my word worke on mee,

And a just office on a murderer doe.

Except it be too late, to kill me so,

Being double dead, going, and bidding, goe.

Biography

John Donne's standing as a great English poet, and one of the greatest writers of English prose, is now assured. However, it has been confirmed only in the present century. The history of Donne's reputation is the most remarkable of any major writer in English; no other body of great poetry has fallen so far from favor for so long and been generally condemned as inept and crude. In Donne's own day his poetry was highly prized . . .

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