Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE THANK-OFFERING, by ARTHUR GUITERMAN Poet's Biography First Line: Overbeck, the forest preacher Last Line: "loveth god, alone." Subject(s): Churches; New York City - Colonial Period; Praise; Rain; Religion; Cathedrals; Theology | ||||||||
OVERBECK, the Forest Preacher, Bent his silvered head: "Harvest yields for every creature Food in store," he said. "Ye that know your Lord is living, Witnessing His grace, Heap your tithes of all His giving Round His altar-place." Ere November breezes blowing Bared the silver birch, Harvest-plenty overflowing Filled the little church. Farmer-folk in pleasant parley Praised the crops they'd reared -- Dirck Van Brunt his sheaves of barley Yellow as his beard, Peter Smit his orchard's bounty; Boastful Gert Von Horn Swore no croft in all the county Equaled his for corn. Housewives showed in oaken caskets Butter firm and good. Children brought in birchen baskets Nuts of copse and wood. All was set before the altar, When across the moor Crept the widow, Gretel Balter, Wrinkled, bent, and poor. "She! that earns with all her labors Scant enough to live, Helped and clothed by kindly neighbors -- What hath she to give?" "Come, behold the widow's treasure!" All the world drew near. Just a little earthen measure Filled with water clear. Just an earthen cruse, upon it Writ in letters plain -- Yea, and all her world might con it -- "God be thanked for rain." Overbeck, the Forest Preacher, Raised his noble head: "She, not I, shall be your teacher, Oh, my friends," he said. "What are treasures proudly tendered? Dross before His throne! Humble offerings, humbly rendered, Loveth God, alone." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MYSTIC BOUNCE by TERRANCE HAYES MATHEMATICS CONSIDERED AS A VICE by ANTHONY HECHT UNHOLY SONNET 11 by MARK JARMAN SHINE, PERISHING REPUBLIC by ROBINSON JEFFERS THE COMING OF THE PLAGUE by WELDON KEES A LITHUANIAN ELEGY by ROBERT KELLY |
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