Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE GENTLE CHECK, by JOSEPH BEAUMONT


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE GENTLE CHECK, by                    
First Line: One half of me was up and drest
Last Line: Before the lark to be at heaven tomorrow.
Subject(s): Idleness; Laziness; Sloth; Indolence


ONE half of me was up and drest,
The other still in lazy rest;
For yet my prayers I had not said;
When I close at her Mattens heard
A dainty-tongued Bird,
Who little thought how she did me upbraid.

But Guilt caught hold of every Note,
And through my breast the anthem shott:
My breast heard more than did my ear,
For now the tune grew sharp and chode
Me into thoughts of God,
To whom most due my earlier Accents were.

How shall I blush enough to see
Poor Birds prevent my praise to thee!
Dear Lord my Muse for pardon pants,
And every tardy guilty Tone
Doth languish to a Grone:
Alas to day she sings not but recants.

Forgive, forgive my lazie Rhyme
Which in its musik keeps not time.
Yf thy sweet patience lets me borrow
Another Morn of Life, I give
My promise heer to strive
Before the lark to be at heaven tomorrow.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net