Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE GLIMPSE, by GEORGE HERBERT



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE GLIMPSE, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Whither away delight?
Last Line: Who by thy coming may be made a court!


WHITHER away, Delight?
Thou cam'st but now; wilt thou so soon depart,
And give me up to night?
For many weeks of lingring pain and smart,
But one half houre of comfort for my heart?

Methinks delight should have
More skill in musick, and keep better time.
More skill in musick, and keep better time.
Wert thou a winde or wave,
They quickly go and come with lesser crime:
Flowers look about, and die not in their prime.

Thy short abode and stay
Feeds not, but addes to the desire of meat.
Lime begg'd of old, they say,
A neighbour spring to cool his inward heat;
Which by the springs accesse grew much more great.

In hope of thee, my heart
Pickt here and there a crumme, and would not die;
But, constant to his part,
When as my fears foretold this, did replie, --
A slender thread a gentle guest will tie.

Yet, if the heart that wept
Must let thee go, return when it doth knock.
Although thy heap be kept
For future times, the droppings of the stock
May oft break forth, and never break the lock.

If I have more to spinne,
The wheel shall go, so that thy stay be short.
Thou knowst how grief and sinne
Disturb the work. O make me not their sport,
Who by thy coming may be made a court!





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