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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE INCARNATION AND PASSION by HENRY VAUGHAN

Poet Analysis

First Line: LORD! WHEN THOU DIDST THYSELF UNDRESS
Last Line: IS ONLY STRONGER FAR THAN DEATH.

Lord! when thou didst thyself undress
Laying by thy robes of glory,
To make us more, thou wouldst be less,
And becam'st a woeful story.

To put on clouds instead of light,
And clothe the morning-star with dust,
Was a translation of such height
As, but in thee, was ne'er expressed;

Brave worms and earth! that thus could have
A God enclosed within your cell,
Your maker pent up in a grave,
Life locked in death, heav'n in a shell;

Ah, my dear Lord! what couldst thou spy
In this impure, rebellious clay,
That made thee thus resolve to die
For those that kill thee every day?

O what strange wonders could thee move
To slight thy precious blood and breath!
Sure it was @3Love@1, my Lord; for @3Love@1
Is only stronger far than death.



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