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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


ANTHEMES FOR THE CATHEDRAL OF EXCETER: 1 by JOSEPH HALL

First Line: LORD WHAT AM I? A WORM, DUST, VAPOR, NOTHING!
Last Line: PRESENT ME TO THY BLISSFULL THRONE.
Subject(s): BEAUTY; DEATH; DREAMS; LIFE; LOVE; SIN; DEAD, THE; NIGHTMARES;

1

Lord what am I? A worm, dust, vapor, nothing!
What is my life? A dream, a daily dying!
What is my flesh? My souls uneasie clothing!
What is my time? A minute ever flying:
My time, my flesh, my life, and I;
What are we Lord but vanity?

Where am I Lord? downe in a vale of death:
What is my trade? sin, my dear God offending;
My sport sin too, my stay a puffe of breath:
What end of sin? hells horrour never ending:
My way, my trade, sport, stay, and place
Help to make up my dolefull case.

Lord what art thou? pure life, power, beauty, bliss:
Where dwell'st thou? up above in perfect light:
What is thy time? eternity it is:
What state? attendance of each glorious sp'rit:
Thy self, thy place, thy dayes, thy state
Pass all the thoughts of powers create.

How shall I reach thee, Lord? Oh soar above,
Ambitious soul: but which way should I flie?
Thou, Lord, art way and end: what wings have I?
Aspiring thoughts, of faith, of hope, of love:
Oh let these wings, that way alone
Present me to thy blissfull throne.



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