Classic and Contemporary Poetry
DENIAL [OR, DENIALL], by GEORGE HERBERT Poem Explanation Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: When my devotions could not pierce Last Line: And men my rhyme. Subject(s): Christianity; Worship | ||||||||
When my devotions could not pierce Thy silent ears, Then was my heart broken, as was my verse; My breast was full of fears And disorder. My bent thoughts, like a brittle bow, Did fly asunder; Each took his way; some would to pleasures go, Some to the wars and thunder Of alarms. "As good go anywhere," they say, "As to benumb Both knees and heart, in crying night and day, Come, come, my God, O come! But no hearing." O that thou shouldst give dust a tongue To cry to thee, And then not hear it crying! All day long My heart was in my knee, But no hearing. Therefore my soul lay out of sight, Untuned, unstrung: My feeble spirit, unable to look right, Like a nipped blossom, hung Discontented. O cheer and tune my heartless breast, Defer no time; That so thy favors granting my request, They and my mind may chime, And men my rhyme. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...COMPANIONSHIP by MALTBIE DAVENPORT BABCOCK FOR I WILL CONSIDER YOUR DOG MOLLY by DAVID LEHMAN RUSSIAN CATHEDRAL by CLAUDE MCKAY LITTLE WHITE CHURCH by MARILYN NELSON A STEEPLE ON THE HOUSE by ROBERT FROST MATE (1) by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON ANSWER TO PRAYER by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON THE TEN COMMANDMENTS by GEORGE SANTAYANA A DIALOGUE ANTHEM by GEORGE HERBERT |
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