Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


JUSTICE (1) by GEORGE HERBERT

Poet Analysis

First Line: I CANNOT SKILL OF THESE THY WAYS
Last Line: I CANNOT SKILL OF THESE MY WAYS.

I CANNOT skill of these thy ways:
Lord, thou didst make me, yet thou woundest me:
Lord, thou dost wound me, yet thou dost relieve me:
Lord, thou relievest, yet I die by thee:
Lord, thou dost kill me, yet thou dost reprieve me.

But, when I mark my life and praise,
Thy justice me most fitly payes:
For I do praise thee, yet I praise thee not:
My prayers mean thee, yet my prayers stray:
I would do well, yet sinne the hand hath got:
My soul doth love thee, yet it loves delay.
I cannot skill of these my ways.



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