Religion

Sonnet: Oh! might these sighs and tears return again

by John Donne 1572–1631

From Specimens with Memoirs of the Less-known British Poets, ed. George Gilfillan (1860)

Religion

Oh! might these sighs and tears return again
Into my breast and eyes which I have spent,
That I might, in this holy discontent,
Mourn with some fruit, as I have mourned in vain!
In mine idolatry what showers of rain
Mine eyes did waste! what griefs my heart did rent!
That sufferance was my sin I now repent;
'Cause I did suffer, I must suffer pain.
The hydroptic drunkard, and night-scouting thief,
The itchy lecher, and self-tickling proud,
Have th' remembrance of past joys for relief
Of coming ills. To poor me is allow'd
No ease; for long yet vehement grief hath been
The effect and cause, the punishment and sin.

MLA

Donne, John. “Sonnet: Oh! might these sighs and tears return again.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/donne/167/.

Chicago

Donne, John. “Sonnet: Oh! might these sighs and tears return again.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/donne/167/.

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