Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE SAP, by HENRY VAUGHAN Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Come sapless blossom, creep not still on earth Last Line: Brings to, and comes from heaven. Alternate Author Name(s): Silurist | ||||||||
Come sapless blossom, creep not still on Earth Forgetting thy first birth; 'Tis not from dust, or if so, why dost thou Thus call and thirst for dew? It tends not thither, if it doth, why then This growth and stretch for heav'n? Thy root sucks but diseases, worms there seat And claim it for their meat. Who placed thee here, did something then infuse Which now can tell thee news. There is beyond the stars an hill of myrrh From which some drops fall here, On it the Prince of Salem sits, who deals To thee thy secret meals, There is thy country, and he is the way And hath withal the key. Yet lived he here sometimes, and bore for thee A world of misery, For thee, who in the first man's loins didst fall From that hill to this vale, And had not he so done, it is most true Two deaths had been thy due; But going hence, and knowing well what woes Might his friends discompose, To show what strange love he had to our good He gave his sacred blood By will our sap and cordial; now in this Lies such a heav'n of bliss, That, who but truly tastes it, no decay Can touch him any way, Such secret life and virtue in it lies It will exalt and rise And actuate such spirits as are shed Or ready to be dead, And bring new too. Get then this sap, and get Good store of it, but let The vessel where you put it be for sure To all your pow'r most pure; There is at all times (though shut up) in you A powerful, rare dew, Which only grief and love extract; with this Be sure, and never miss, To wash your vessel well: then humbly take This balm for souls that ache, And one who drank it thus, assures that you Shall find a joy so true, Such perfect ease, and such a lively sense Of grace against all sins, That you'll confess the comfort such, as even Brings to, and comes from Heaven. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest... |
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