Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE SEARCH, by HENRY VAUGHAN Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Tis now clear day: I see a rose Last Line: Travels in clouds, seeks manna, where none is. Alternate Author Name(s): Silurist Subject(s): Bible; Religion; Theology | ||||||||
'Tis now clear day: I see a Rose Bud in the bright East, and disclose The Pilgrim-Sun; all night have I Spent in a roving ecstasy To find my Saviour; I have been As far as Bethlem, and have seen His inn and cradle; being there I met the Wise-men, asked them where He might be found, or what star can Now point him out, grown up a man? To Egypt hence I fled, ran o'er All her parched bosom to Nile's shore Her yearly nurse; came back, enquired Amongst the Doctors, and desired To see the Temple, but was shown A little dust, and for the town A heap of ashes, where some said A small bright sparkle was a bed, Which would one day (beneath the pole) Awake, and then refine the whole. Tired here, I come to Sychar; thence To Jacob's well, bequeathed since Unto his sons (where often they In those calm, golden evenings lay Wat'ring their flocks, and having spent Those white days, drove home to the tent Their well-fleeced train; and here (O fate!) I sit, where once my Saviour sate; The angry spring in bubbles swelled Which broke in sighs still, as they filled, And whispered, jesus had been there But Jacob's children would not hear. Loath hence to part, at last I rise But with the fountain in my eyes, And here a fresh search is decreed: He must be found, where he did bleed; I walk the garden, and there see Ideas of his Agony, And moving anguishments that set His blest face in a bloody sweat; I climbed the Hill, perused the Cross Hung with my gain, and his great loss, Never did tree bear fruit like this, Balsam of souls, the body's bliss; But, O his grave! where I saw lent (For he had none) a monument, An undefiled and new-hewed one, But there was not the corner-stone; Sure (then said I) my quest is vain, He'll not be found, where he was slain, So mild a Lamb can never be 'Midst so much blood and cruelty; I'll to the wilderness, and can Find beasts more merciful than man, He lived there safe, 'twas his retreat From the fierce Jew, and Herod's heat, And forty days withstood the fell And high temptations of hell; With Seraphins there talked he, His father's flaming ministry, He heav'ned their walks, and with his eyes Made those wild shades a Paradise, Thus was the desert sanctified To be the refuge of his bride; I'll thither then; see, it is day, The Sun's broke through to guide my way. But as I urged thus, and writ down What pleasures should my journey crown, What silent paths, what shades, and cells, Fair, virgin-flowers, and hallow'd wells I should rove in, and rest my head Where my dear Lord did often tread, Sug'ring all dangers with success, Me thought I heard one singing thus; I Leave, leave, thy gadding thoughts; Who pores and spies Still out of doors descries Within them nought. 2 The skin and shell of things Though fair, are not Thy wish, nor pray'r but got By mere despair of wings. 3 To rack old elements, or dust and say Sure here he must needs stay Is not the way, nor just. Search well another world; who studies this, Travels in clouds, seeks Manna, where none is. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MYSTIC BOUNCE by TERRANCE HAYES MATHEMATICS CONSIDERED AS A VICE by ANTHONY HECHT UNHOLY SONNET 11 by MARK JARMAN SHINE, PERISHING REPUBLIC by ROBINSON JEFFERS THE COMING OF THE PLAGUE by WELDON KEES |
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