Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, OUR PRAYER, by GEORGE HERBERT


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

OUR PRAYER, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Thou that hast given so much to me
Last Line: Thy praise.
Variant Title(s): Gratefulness;a Heart To Praise Thee
Subject(s): Gratitude; Prayer; Religion; Theology


THOU that hast giv'n so much to me,
Give one thing more, a gratefull heart.
See how thy beggar works on thee
By art.

He makes thy gifts occasion more;
And sayes, If he in this be crost,
All thou hast giv'n him heretofore
Is lost.

But thou didst reckon, when at first
Thy word our hearts and hands did crave,
What it would come to at the worst
To save.

Perpetuall knockings at thy doore,
Tears sullying thy transparent rooms
Gift upon gift; much would have more,
And comes.

This not withstanding, thou wentst on,
And didst allow us all our noise:
Nay, thou hast made a sigh and grone
Thy joyes.

Not that thou hast not still above
Much better tunes then grones can make;
But that these countrey-aires thy love
Did take.

Wherefore I crie, and crie again;
And in no quiet canst thou be,
Till I a thankfull heart obtain
Of thee:

Not thankfull, when it pleaseth me;
As if thy blessings had spare dayes:
But such a heart, whose pulse may be
Thy praise.





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