Classic and Contemporary Poetry
LENT, by GEORGE HERBERT Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Welcome deare feast of lent: who loves not thee Last Line: And among those his soul. Subject(s): Lent | ||||||||
WELCOME, deare feast of Lent: who loves not thee, He loves not temperance or authoritie, But is compos'd of passion. The Scriptures bid us fast; the church says, now: Give to thy mother what thou wouldst allow To ev'ry corporation. The humble soul, compos'd of love and fear, Begins at home, and layes the burden there, When doctrines disagree: He sayes, in things which use hath justly got, I am a scandall to the church, and not The church is so to me. True Christians should be glad of an occasion To use their temperance, seeking no evasion, When good is seasonable; Unlesse authoritie, which should increase The obligation in us, make it lesse, And power it self disable. Besides the cleannesse of sweet abstinence, Quick thoughts and motions at a small expense, A face not fearing light: Whereas in fulnesse there are sluttish fumes, Sowre exhalations, and dishonest rheumes, Revenging the delight. Then those same pendant profits, which the spring And Easter intimate, enlarge the thing, And goodnesse of the deed. Neither ought other mens abuse of Lent Spoil the good use; lest, by that argument, We forfeit all our creed. It's true, we cannot reach Christs forti'th day; Yet to go part of that religious way Is better than to rest: We cannot reach our Saviours puritie; Yet are we bid, "Be holy ev'n as he." In both let's do our best. Who goeth in the way which Christ hath gone, Is much more sure to meet with him, than one That travelleth by-wayes. Perhaps my God, though he be farre before, May turn, and take me by the hand, and more, May strengthen my decayes. Yet, Lord, instruct us to improve our fast By starving sinne, and taking such repast As may our faults controll: That ev'ry man may revell at his doore, Not in his parlour; banquetting the poore, And among those his soul. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...AN ANNUAL OF THE DARK PHYSICS by NORMAN DUBIE THE THIEF IN THE PAINTING by LARRY LEVIS LENTEN GREETING; TO A LADY by GEORGE SANTAYANA ASHWEDNESDAY by JOSEPH BEAUMONT DELIA AND I by GEORGE HERBERT CLARKE HYMN: FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT by REGINALD HEBER A DIALOGUE ANTHEM by GEORGE HERBERT |
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