Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, PREPARATORY MEDITATIONS, 2D SERIES: 87, by EDWARD TAYLOR



Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

PREPARATORY MEDITATIONS, 2D SERIES: 87, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Life! Life! What's that? It is a taske too hard
Last Line: Will give my life and selfe to thee with joy.
Subject(s): Life; Puritans In Literature


Life! Life! What's That? It is a Taske too hard
For my Goose Quill with 'Bellisht Definitions
To set it out: It would thereby be marrd:
My inke would black it, though a gold Edition.
Its Natures Principall, that makes all brisk,
Peart, Flowerish, Glorious where it consists.

Its such a Thing that makes all things in which
It doth embower, and while they're with it fraught
To be full Worthy, Beautifull and Rich
While in them. But when Gone, they're good for naught.
Where ere it is, its th'chiefest excellence:
And where it is not, is no Worth, nor Sense.

Its such a thing, that all things else attende.
Earths Golden Fleece, and Flourish, Fruits, and Flower
Of ery sort, their sweet Consent do sende,
To Honour, and mentain it in its Tower.
Heaven smiles on't and in 'ts Crystall Candle Stick
Stand Sun, Moon, Stars blazing to Lighten it.

It from the Worlds Birth runs unto its End
Along Lifes Channells of each sort of things
And all their peart Eyde beauty doth them send.
What of all worldly Glory is the Spring,
Whose brightest Flower of all this Beauty bright
Is Humane Life. Oh! a most beautious sight.

This Life adepts mans Person to be made
All Glorious with shining Grace indeed,
And in this glory in Gods Holy trade
Of Grace unto his Glory to proceed.
But oh! Sin fould this Glory: Man hath lost it:
Death by a Sinfull Morsell killd and crost it.

But oh! what Grace, my Blessed Lord, hast thou?
What vallue sets't thou on mans life, now vile?
Prize it thou dost 'bove all the world, that Now
To save't from Death, thou leapest ore the Stile,
Dy'dst in our Stead, that wee might still have Life
Appeasing Justice, Ending thereby Strife.

But oh! how precious is this Life of Man,
Seing thou cam'st from heaven for this end
That we might live, Do Satan what he can,
Myselfe to thee, my Lord, I therefore give.
Give me, Lord, Life and Grace to boot then I
Will give My Life and Selfe to thee with Joy.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...



Home: PoetryExplorer.net