This is Sammuel’s tattoo:
i love the poem – the sentiment (ie- the contradiction that is love or that is ecstatic love). the voice here can only be chaste when ravished. and what does it mean to be ravished by god? this picture was taken the night i had it done.
BATTER my heart, three person’d God; for, you
As yet but knocke, breathe, shine, and seeke to mend;
That I may rise, and stand, o’erthrow mee,’and bend
Your force, to breake, blowe, burn and make me new.
I, like an usurpt towne, to’another due, 5
Labour to’admit you, but Oh, to no end,
Reason your viceroy in mee, mee should defend,
But is captiv’d, and proves weake or untrue.
Yet dearely’I love you,’and would be loved faine,
But am betroth’d unto your enemie: 10
Divorce mee,’untie, or breake that knot againe;
Take mee to you, imprison mee, for I
Except you’enthrall mee, never shall be free,
Nor ever chast, except you ravish mee.
- Batter My Heart, Three Person’d God (Holy Sonnet XIV) by John Donne
(23 votes, average: 3.57 out of 5)
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Oh, that’s one of my favorite poems. Great choice!
It has taken me 10 years to decide on what I wanted my first tattoo to be. I haven’t gotten it done yet, but I know that I want this same John Donne poem tattooed on my back. I can’t decide on a line or two, so the whole thing is what I’m considering now. Just thought it was nice that someone else shared my love for this poem.
I love this tattoo! That is one of my favoirte poems…