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A continuing selection of classic and contemporary poems.

The Expiration

John Donne

So, so, break off this last lamenting kiss,
    Which sucks two souls, and vapors both away,
Turn thou ghost that way, and let me turn this,
    And let our selves benight our happiest day,
We ask none leave to love; nor will we owe
    Any, so cheap a death, as saying, Go;
Go; and if that word have not quite kil’d thee,
    Ease me with death, by bidding me go too.
Oh, if it have, let my word work on me,
    And a just office on a murderer do.
Except it be too late, to kill me so,
    Being double dead, going, and bidding, go.
Online text © 1998-2008 Poetry X. All rights reserved.

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