Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE CONSTELLATION, by HENRY VAUGHAN Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Fair, ordered lights (whose motion without noise Last Line: And say, where god is, all agree. Alternate Author Name(s): Silurist Subject(s): Constellations | ||||||||
Fair, ordered lights (whose motion without noise) Resembles those true Joys Whose spring is on that hil where you do grow And we here tast sometimes below,) With what exact obedience do you move Now beneath, and now above, And in your vast progressions overlook The darkest night, and closest nook! Some nights I see you in the gladsome East, Some other neer the West, And when I cannot see, yet do you shine And beat about your endles line. Silence, and light, and watchfulnes with you Attend and wind the Clue, No sleep, nor sloth assailes you, but poor man Still either sleeps, or slips his span. He grops beneath here, and with restless Care First makes, then hugs a snare, Adores dead dust, sets heart on Corne and grass But seldom doth make heav'n his glass. Musick and mirth (if there be musick here) Take up, and tune his year, These things are Kin to him, and must be had, Who kneels, or sighs a lie is mad. Perhaps some nights hee'l watch with you, and peep When it were best to sleep, Dares know Effects, and Judge them long before, When th' herb he treads knows much, much more. But seeks he your Obedience, Order, Light, Your calm and wel-train'd flight, Where, though the glory differ in each star, Yet is there peace still, and no war? Since plac'd by him who calls you by your names And fixt there all your flames, Without Command you never acted ought And then you in your Courses fought. But here Commission'd by a black self-wil The sons the father kil, The Children Chase the mother, and would heal The wounds they give, by crying, zeale. Then Cast her bloud, and tears upon thy book Where they for fashion look, And like that Lamb which had the Dragons voice Seem mild, but are known by their noise. Thus by our lusts disorder'd into wars Our guides prove wandring stars, Which for these mists, and black days were reserv'd, What time we from our first love swerv'd. Yet O for his sake who sits now by thee All crown'd with victory, So guide us through this Darknes, that we may Be more and more in love with day; Settle, and fix our hearts, that we may move In order, peace, and love, And taught obedience by thy whole Creation, Become an humble, holy nation. Give to thy spouse her perfect, and pure dress, Beauty and holiness, And so repair these Rents, that men may see And say, Where God is, all agree. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE GLOBE IN CAROLINA by DEREK MAHON THE CONSTELLATIONS OF AUTUMN by ERIC PANKEY SWEENEY AMONG THE NIGHTINGALES by THOMAS STEARNS ELIOT THE GREAT BEAR by JOHN HOLLANDER PLANETARIUM by ADRIENNE CECILE RICH THE CROSS OF THE SOUTH by FELICIA DOROTHEA HEMANS |
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