|
|
|
Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE CHECK, by HENRY VAUGHAN Poet Analysis Poet's Biography
First Line: Peace, peace! I blush to hear thee; when thou art
Last Line: Perhaps tomorrow.
Alternate Author Name(s): Silurist
First Line: Peace, peace! I blush to hear thee; when thou art
Last Line: Perhaps tomorrow.
Alternate Author Name(s): Silurist
Peace, peace! I blush to hear thee; when thou art
A dusty story,
A speechless heap, and in the midst my heart
In the same livery dressed
Lies tame as all the rest;
When six years thence digged up, some youthful eye
Seeks there for symmetry
But finding none, shall leave thee to the wind,
Or the next foot to crush,
Scatt'ring thy kind
And humble dust, tell then dear flesh
Where is thy glory?
2
As he that in the midst of day expects
The hideous night,
Sleeps not, but shaking off sloth and neglects,
Works with the sun, and sets,
Paying the day its debts;
That (for repose and darkness bound) he might
Rest from the fears i' th' night;
So should we too. All things teach us to die
And point us out the way
While we pass by
And mind it not; play not away
Thy glimpse of light.
3
View thy fore-runners: creatures giv'n to be
Thy youth's companions,
Take their leave, and die; birds, beasts, each tree,
All that have growth, or breath
Have one large language, Death.
O then play not! but strive to him, who can
Make these sad shades pure sun,
Turning their mists to beams, their damps to day,
Whose pow'r doth so excel
As to make clay
A spirit, and true glory dwell
In dust and stones.
4
Hark, how he doth invite thee! with what voice
Of love and sorrow
He begs and calls; O that in these thy days
Thou knew'st but thy own good!
Shall not the cries of blood,
Of God's own blood awake thee? He bids beware
Of drunkness, surfeits, care,
But thou sleep'st on; where's now thy protestation,
Thy lines, thy love? Away,
Redeem the day,
The day that gives no observation,
Perhaps tomorrow.