John Donne A HYMN TO CHRIST, AT THE AUTHOR'S LAST GOING INTO GERMANY. IN what torn ship so ever I embark, That ship shall be my emblem of Thy ark ; What sea soever swallow me, that flood Shall be to me an emblem of Thy blood ; Though Thou with clouds of anger do disguise Thy face, yet through that mask I know those eyes,     Which, though they turn away sometimes,         They never will despise. I sacrifice this island unto Thee, And all whom I love there, and who loved me ; When I have put our seas 'twixt them and me, Put thou Thy seas betwixt my sins and Thee. As the tree's sap doth seek the root below In winter, in my winter now I go,     Where none but Thee, the eternal root         Of true love, I may know. Nor Thou nor Thy religion dost control The amorousness of an harmonious soul ; But Thou wouldst have that love Thyself ; as Thou Art jealous, Lord, so I am jealous now ; Thou lovest not, till from loving more Thou free My soul ; Who ever gives, takes liberty ;     Oh, if Thou carest not whom I love,         Alas ! Thou lovest not me. Seal then this bill of my divorce to all, On whom those fainter beams of love did fall ; Marry those loves, which in youth scatter'd be On fame, wit, hopes—false mistresses—to Thee. Churches are best for prayer, that have least light ; To see God only, I go out of sight ;     And to escape stormy days, I choose         An everlasting night. Claude Lorrain. "Port with Villa Medici." 1637. Detail. From CGFA Source: Donne, John. Poems of John Donne. vol I. E. K. Chambers, ed. London: Lawrence & Bullen, 1896. 193-194. to Works of John Donne Site copyright ©1996-2003 Anniina Jokinen. All Rights Reserved. Created by Anniina Jokinen on June 14, 1996. Last updated on September 1, 2003. Background by the kind permission of Stormi Wallpaper Boutique.