That Time and Absence proves Rather helps than hurts to loves
1573-1631
ABSENCE, hear thou my protestation
Against thy strength,
Distance and length:
Do what thou canst for alteration,
For hearts of truest mettle
Absence doth join and Time doth settle.
Who loves a mistress of such quality,
His mind hath found
Affection's ground
Beyond time, place, and all mortality.
To hearts that cannot vary
Absence is present, Time doth tarry.
My senses want their outward motion
Which now within
Reason doth win,
Redoubled by her secret notion:
Like rich men that take pleasure
In hiding more than handling treasure.
By Absence this good means I gain,
That I can catch her
Where none can watch her,
In some close corner of my brain:
There I embrace and kiss her,
And so enjoy her and none miss her.
DayPoems Poem No. 198
<a href="http://www.daypoems.net/poems/198.html">That Time and Absence proves Rather helps than hurts to loves by John Donne</a>
The DayPoems Poetry Collection, www.daypoems.net
Timothy Bovee, editor
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