Entries categorized as ‘poetry’
THE DAWNING
AWAKE, sad heart, whom sorrow ever drowns ;
Take up thine eyes, which feed on earth ;
Unfold thy forehead, gathered into frowns ;
Thy Saviour comes, and with Him mirth :
Awake, awake,
And with a thankful heart His comforts take.
But thou dost still lament, and pine, and cry,
And feel His death, but not His victory.
Arise, sad heart ; if thou dost not withstand,
Christ’s resurrection thine may be ;
Do not by hanging down break from the hand
Which, as it riseth, raiseth thee :
Arise, Arise;
And with His burial linen drie thine eyes.
Christ left His grave-clothes, that we might, when grief
Draws tears or blood, not want a handkerchief.
George Herbert
Categories: poetry
Tagged: george herbert metaphysical poetry dawning awake resurr
The Dying Christian To His Soul
Vital spark of heav’nly flame!
Quit, O quit, this mortal frame:
Trembling, hoping, ling’ring, flying,
O the pain, the bliss of dying!
Cease, fond Nature, cease thy strife,
And let me languish into life.
Hark! they whisper; angels say,
Sister Spirit, come away!
What is this absorbs me quite?
Steals my senses, shuts my sight,
Drowns my spirit, draws my breath?
Tell me, my soul, can this be death?
The world recedes; it disappears!
Heav’n opens on my eyes! My ears
With sounds seraphic ring!
Lend your wings! I mount, I fly!
O Grave! where is thy victory?
O Death! where is thy sting?
Alexander Pope
Categories: poetry
Tagged: alexander, christian, death, dying, grave, metaphysical, poetry, pope, soul, spirit, sting, victory
Today I was reminded of these lines from Alexander Pope.
A little learning is a dang’rous thing;
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian Spring;
There shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
And drinking largely sobers us again.
Thoughts? Questions? Personal and/or world connections?
Categories: poetry
