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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE DEDICATION (2), by HENRY VAUGHAN Poet Analysis Poet's Biography
First Line: My god! Thou that didst die for me
Last Line: Can tell thee where a heart is broken.
Alternate Author Name(s): Silurist
First Line: My god! Thou that didst die for me
Last Line: Can tell thee where a heart is broken.
Alternate Author Name(s): Silurist
I
My God! thou that didst die for me,
These thy death's fruits I offer thee;
Death that to me was life and light,
But dark and deep pangs to thy sight.
Some drops of thy all-quick'ning blood
Fell on my heart; those made it bud
And put forth thus, though Lord, before
The ground was cursed, and void of store.
Indeed I had some here to hire
Which long resisted thy desire,
That stoned thy servants, and did move
To have thee murthered for thy love;
But Lord, I have expelled them, and so bent,
Beg, thou wouldst take thy tenant's rent.
II
Dear Lord, 'tis finished! and now he
That copied it, presents it thee.
'Twas thine first, and to thee returns,
From thee it shined, though here it burns;
If the sun rise on rocks, is't right,
To call it their inherent light?
No, nor can I say, this is mine,
For, dearest Jesus, 'tis all thine.
As thy clothes (when thou with clothes wert clad)
Both light from thee, and virtue had,
And now (as then within this place)
Thou to poor rags dost still give grace.
This is the earnest thy love sheds,
The Candle shining on some heads,
Till at thy charges they shall be,
Clothed all with immortality.
My dear Redeemer, the world's light,
And life too, and my heart's delight!
For all thy mercies and thy truth
Showed to me in my sinful youth,
For my sad failings and my wild
Murmurings at thee, when most mild:
For all my secret faults, and each
Frequent relapse and wilful breach,
For all designs meant against thee,
And ev'ry published vanity
Which thou divinely hast forgiven,
While thy blood washed me white as heaven:
I nothing have to give to thee,
But this thy own gift, given to me;
Refuse it not! for now thy Token
Can tell thee where a heart is broken.