Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


UNPROFITABLENESS by HENRY VAUGHAN

Poet Analysis

First Line: HOW RICH, O LORD! HOW FRESH THY VISITS ARE!
Last Line: THE ODOUR I BEQUEATH.

How rich, O Lord! how fresh thy visits are!
'Twas but just now my bleak leaves hopeless hung
Sullied with dust and mud;
Each snarling blast shot through me, and did share
Their youth and beauty, cold showers nipped and wrung
Their spiciness and blood;
But since thou didst in one sweet glance survey
Their sad decays, I flourish, and once more
Breathe all perfumes and spice;
I smell a dew like @3myrrh@1, and all the day
Wear in my bosom a full Sun; such store
Hath one beam from thy eyes.
But, ah, my God! what fruit hast thou of this?
What one poor leaf did ever I yet fall
To wait upon thy wreath?
Thus thou all day a thankless weed dost dress,
And when th' hast done, a stench, or fog is all
The odour I bequeath.



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