Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, SPATTER'S RAMBLES: CHURCH CONGREGATIONS, by HUGH KELLY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SPATTER'S RAMBLES: CHURCH CONGREGATIONS, by                    
First Line: To our parish church sunday evening, I went
Last Line: "says your friendly adviser,—jack spatter."
Alternate Author Name(s): Spatter, Jack
Subject(s): Public Worship; Church Attendance


"To our parish church Sunday evening, I went,
With a laudable hope to improve,
And carried a mind most religiously bent
On the Author of all things, above.

But the temple, alas! which in ages ago
Had the rage of oppression withstood,
Now seemed more a place of amusement and show,
Than the fane of a Being so good.

Thou saw'st how the gay and the indolent fair
Appeared, gracious Lord, at thy shrine,
And the maid who would die for an opera air
Would not stoop to an anthem of Thine.

Some puppy-bepowdered, or half-headed thing,
Her attention had foolishly stole,
And raised more regard for a necklace or ring,
Than th'eternal repose of her soul.

The slave who would worship with pride all his days,
And attend on a minister's nod,
Was here quite abashed to appear in Thy praise,
And ashamed to kneel down to his God.

But, warned, O ye thoughtless, of judgment beware,
Nor your errors so impiously flatter:
For Heaven will scourge, though awhile it may spare,
Says your friendly adviser,—Jack Spatter."





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