Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, LOVE, by THOMAS TRAHERNE


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

LOVE, by                 Poet's Biography
First Line: O nectar! O delicious stream
Last Line: His son, bride, glory, temple, end.
Subject(s): God; Love


I

O nectar! O delicious stream!
O ravishing and only pleasure! Where
Shall such another theme
Inspire my tongue with joys, or please mine ear!
Abridgement of delights!
And queen of sights!
O mine of rarities! O kingdom wide!
O more! O cause of all! O glorious bride!
O God! O bride of God! O king!
O soul and crown of everything!

2

Did not I covet to behold
Some endless monarch, that did always live
In palaces of gold,
Willing all kingdoms, realms, and crowns to give
Unto my soul! Whose love
A spring might prove
Of endless glories, honours, friendships, pleasures,
Joys, praises, beauties, and celestial treasures!
Lo, now I see there's such a King,
The fountainhead of everything!

3

Did my ambition ever dream
Of such a Lord, of such a love! Did I
Expect so sweet a stream
As this at any time! Could any eye
Believe it? Why, all power
Is used here
Joys down from Heaven on my head to shower,
And Jove beyond the fiction doth appear
Once more in golden rain to come
To Danae's pleasing fruitful womb.

4

His Ganymede! His life! His joy!
Or He comes down to me, or takes me up
That I might be His boy,
And fill, and taste, and give, and drink the cup.
But these (tho great) are all
Too short and small,
Too weak and feeble pictures to express
The true mysterious depths of blessedness.
I am His image, and His friend.
His son, bride, glory, temple, end.





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