Classic and Contemporary Poetry
ADAM, by THOMAS TRAHERNE Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: God made man upright at the first Last Line: The earth being in the middle found. Subject(s): Adam & Eve; Bible | ||||||||
1 God made man upright at the first; Man made himself by sin accurst: Sin is a deviation from the way Of God: 'tis that wherein a man doth stray From the first path wherein he was to walk, From the first truth he was to talk. 2 His talk was to be all of praise, Thanksgiving, rapture, holy days; For nothing else did with his state agree: Being full of wonder and felicity, He was in thankful sort to meditate Upon the throne in which he state. 3 No gold, nor trade, nor silver there, Nor clothes, nor coin, nor houses were, No gaudy coaches, feasts, or palaces, Nor vain inventions newly made to please; But native truth, and virgin-purity, An uncorrupt simplicity. 4 His faithful heart, his hands, and eyes He lifted up unto the skies; The earth he wondering kneel'd upon; the air, He was surrounded with; the trees, the fair And fruitful fields, his needful treasures were; And nothing else he wanted there. 5 The world itself was his next theme, Whereof himself was made supreme: He had an angel's eye to see the price Of every creature; that made Paradise. He had a tongue, yea more, a cherub's sense To feel its worth and excellence. 6 Encompass'd with the fruits of love, He crowned was with Heaven above, Supported with the footstool of God's throne, A globe more rich than gold or precious stone, The fertile ground of pleasure and delight, Encircled in a sphere of light. 7 The sense of what he did possess Fill'd him with joy and thankfulness; He was transported even here on earth, As if he then in Heaven had his birth: The truth is, Heaven did the man surround, The earth being in the middle found. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...O TO BE A DRAGON by MARIANNE MOORE BIBLICAL MEDITATIONS by YEHUDA AMICHAI KING DAVID DANCES by JOHN BERRYMAN THE DREAM SONGS: 234. THE CARPENTER'S SON by JOHN BERRYMAN THE DREAM SONGS: 47. APRIL FOOL'S DAY, OR, ST MARY OF EGYPT by JOHN BERRYMAN |
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