Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE ALTAR, by GEORGE HERBERT


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THE ALTAR, by             Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: A broken altar, lord, thy servant reares
Last Line: And sanctifie this altar to be thine.
Subject(s): Altars; Doubt; Immortality; Skepticism


A BROKEN altar, Lord, thy servant reares,
Made of a heart, and cemented with teares:
Whose parts are as thy hand did frame;
No workmans tool hath touch'd the same.
A heart alone
Is such a stone,
As nothing but
Thy pow'r doth cut.
Wherefore each part
Of my hard heart
Meets in this frame,
To praise thy name:
That, if I chance to hold my peace,
These stones to praise thee may not cease.
O let thy blessed sacrifice be mine,
And sanctifie this altar to be thine.





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