Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, TO MR GEORGE HERBERT, WITH ONE OF MY SEALS, OF THE ANCHOR AND CHRIST, by JOHN DONNE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TO MR GEORGE HERBERT, WITH ONE OF MY SEALS, OF THE ANCHOR AND CHRIST, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: A sheafe of snakes used heretofore to be
Last Line: To you, who bear his name, great bounties deal.
Subject(s): Herbert, George (1593-1633)


A Sheafe of Snakes used heretofore to be
My Seal, The Crest of our poore Family.
Adopted in Gods Family, and so
Our old Coat lost, unto new armes I go.
The Crosse (my seal at Baptism) spred below,
Does, by that form, into an Anchor grow.
Crosses grow Anchors; Bear, as thou shouldst do
Thy Crosse, and that Crosse grows an Anchor too.
But he that makes our Crosses Anchors thus,
Is Christ, who there is crucifi'd for us.
Yet may I, with this, my first Serpents hold,
God gives new blessings, and yet leaves the old;
The Serpent, may, as wise, my pattern be;
My poison, as he feeds on dust, that's me.
And as he rounds the Earth to murder sure,
My death he is, but on the Crosse, my cure.
Crucifie nature then, and then implore
All Grace from him, crucified there before;
When all is Crosse, and that Crosse Anchor grown,
This Seal's a Catechism, not a Seal alone.
Under that little Seal great gifts I send,
and prayers, pawns, and fruits of a friend.
And may that Saint which rides in our great Seal,
To you, who bear his name, great bounties deal.





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