Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, PREPARATORY MEDITATIONS, 1ST SERIES: 23, by EDWARD TAYLOR


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

PREPARATORY MEDITATIONS, 1ST SERIES: 23, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Would god I in that golden city were
Last Line: And thou my bridesgroom deare espousde shalt bee.
Subject(s): Puritans In Literature


Would God I in that Golden City were,
With Jaspers Walld, all garnisht, and made swash,
With Pretious Stones, whose Gates are Pearles most cleare
And Street Pure Gold, like to transparent Glass.
That my dull Soule, might be inflamde to see
How Saints and Angells ravisht are in Glee.

Were I but there, and could but tell my Story,
'Twould rub those Walls of Pretious Stones more bright:
And glaze those Gates of Pearle, with brighter Glory;
And pave the golden Street with greater light.
'Twould in fresh Raptures Saints, and Angells fling.
But I poore Snake Crawl here, scarce mudwalld in.

May my Rough Voice, and my blunt Tongue but spell
My Tale (for tune they can't) perhaps there may
Some Angell catch an end of't up, and tell
In Heaven, when he doth return that way,
He'l make thy Palace, Lord, all over ring,
With it in Songs, thy Saint, and Angells sing.

I know not how to speak't, it is so good:
Shall Mortall, and Immortall marry? nay,
Man marry God? God be a Match for Mud?
The King of Glory Wed a Worm? mere Clay?
This is the Case. The Wonder too in Bliss.
Thy Maker is thy Husband. Hearst thou this?

My Maker, he my Husband? Oh! strange joy!
If Kings wed Worms, and Monarchs Mites wed should,
Glory spouse Shame, a Prince a Snake or Fly
An Angell Court an Ant, all Wonder would.
Let such wed Worms, Snakes, Serpents, Divells, Flyes.
Less Wonder than the Wedden in our Eyes.

I am to Christ more base, than to a King
A Mite, Fly, Worm, Ant, Serpent, Divell is,
Or Can be, being tumbled all in Sin,
And shall I be his Spouse? How good is this?
It is too good to be declar'de to thee.
But not too good to be believ'de by mee.

Yet to this Wonder, this is found in mee,
I am not onely base but backward Clay,
When Christ doth Wooe: and till his Spirit bee
His Spokes man to Compell me I deny.
I am so base and Froward to him, Hee
Appears as Wonders Wonder, wedding mee.

Seing, Dear Lord, its thus, thy Spirit take
And send thy Spokes man, to my Soul, I pray.
Thy Saving Grace my Wedden Garment make:
Thy Spouses Frame into my Soul Convay.
I then shall be thy Bride Espoused by thee
And thou my Bridesgroom Deare Espousde shalt bee.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


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