Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE DIALOGUE, by THOMAS TRAHERNE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE DIALOGUE, by                 Poet's Biography
First Line: Why dost thou tell me that the fields are mine
Last Line: Mean thee alone (my friend) in every deed.
Subject(s): Mankind; Nature; Sun; Human Race


Q. Why dost thou tell me that the fields are mine?
A. Because for thee the fields so richly shine.

Q. Am I the heir of the works of men?
A. For thee they dress, for thee manure them.

Q. Did I myself by them intended see,
That I the heir of their works should be,
It well would please; but they themselves intend:
I therefore am not of their works the end.
A. The real benefit of all their works,
Wherein such mighty joy and beauty lurks,
Derives itself to thee; to thee doth come,
As do the labours of the shining sun;
Which doth not think on thee at all, my friend,
Yet all his beams of light on thee do tend:
For thee they shine and do themselves display;
For thee they do both make and gild the day;
For thee doth rise that glorious orb of light;
For thee it sets, and so gives way for night;
That glorious bridegroom daily shows his face,
Adorns the world, and swiftly runs his race,
Disperseth clouds, and raiseth vapours too,
Exciteth winds, distils the rain and dew,
Concocteth mines, and makes the liquid seas
Contribute moisture to thy plants and trees,
Doth quicken beasts, revive thy vital powers,
Thrusts forth the grass, and beautifies thy flowers,
By tacit causes animates the trees,
As they do thee so he doth cherish bees,
Digesteth metals, raiseth fruit and corn,
Makes rivers flow, and mountains doth adorn:
All these it doth, not by its own design,
But by thy God's, which is far more divine;
Who so disposeth things, that they may be
In Heaven and earth kind ministers to thee:
And tho the men that toil for meat, and drink,
And clothes, or houses, do not on thee think;
Yet all their labours by His heavenly care
To thee, in mind or body, helpful are:
And that God thus intends thy single self,
Should please thee more, than if to heap up wealth
All men for thee did work, and sweat, and bleed;
Mean thee alone (my friend) in every deed.





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