This is a different take on love from the other poems we’ve looked at so far. That’s probably all you need to have in your head when examining this poem.
This consisted of three sections and this comes from the end of the second one, called The Church. This poem is the third one in the collection called Love the first two complain that earthly love gets much more attention and focus than the more worthy religious love. His major collection of poetry was called The Temple. He is somewhat famous for his use of shape within his poetry, where both ideas and shape link to Church architecture. After a brief academic career, then a stint in politics, he joined the priesthood in 1629 and only served for 4 years before dying at 39.Īll of his poetry that has survived was religious focused.
Unfortunately though he wasn’t a priest for long. George Herbert was a poet, orator and priest: you don’t get many people with that on their CVs these days! Not only that he seems to have been a very kind and charitable priest – extremely unusual! – with one contemporary saying he was ‘a most glorious saint and seer’. You must sit down, says Love, and taste my meat:Ĭlick through the tabs below to explore my analysis of different aspects of the poem. Truth Lord, but I have marred them: let my shameĪnd know you not, says Love, who bore the blame? Love took my hand, and smiling did reply, Yet my soul drew backīut quick-eyed Love, observing me grow slack Herbert uses this poem to show the superiority of heavenly love to earthly love. However, in contrast to the all powerful image of God that is often found in poetry, here we have a humble and kind God who recognises Herbert’s worth. God is welcoming Herbert, but Herbert consistently questions his own worth and refers to his guilt and sinning as reasons God should be disapproving. However, it’s pretty simple once you do.īasically this is a conversation between the Herbert and God.
If you’re not aware of the context of Herbert’s writing, you will get confused when trying to make heads or tales of this one.
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