Christian Poetry Considered

Tag: 17th century

  • ‘Hymn to God, my God, in my Sickness’ by John Donne (1571-1631)

    ‘Hymn to God, my God, in my Sickness’ by John Donne (1571-1631)

    Since I am coming to that holy room, Where, with thy choir of saints for evermore,I shall be made thy music; as I come I tune the instrument here at the door, And what I must do then, think here before. 5Whilst my physicians by their love are grown Cosmographers, and I their map, who…

  • ‘Sonnet 146′ by William Shakespeare (1564-1616)

    ‘Sonnet 146′ by William Shakespeare (1564-1616)

    Poor soul, the centre of my sinful earth,Feeding these rebel powers that thee array,Why dost thou pine within and suffer dearth,Painting thy outward walls so costly gay? 4Why so large cost, having so short a lease,Dost thou upon thy fading mansion spend?Shall worms, inheritors of this excess,Eat up thy charge? Is this thy body’s end?…

  • ‘The Altar’ by George Herbert (1593-1633)

    A broken ALTAR, Lord thy servant rears, Made of a heart, and cemented with tears: Whose parts are as thy hand did frame; No workman’s tool hath touch’d the same. 4 A HEART alone Is such a stone, As nothing but Thy pow’r doth cut. 8 Wherefore each part Of my hard heart Meets in…

  • ‘Holy Sonnet 13′ by John Donne (1571-1631)

    What if this present were the worlds last night?Mark in my heart, O Soul, where thou dost dwell,The picture of Christ crucified, and tellWhether that countenance can thee affright, 4Tears in his eyes quench the amazing light,Blood fills his frowns, which from his pierc’d head fell.And can that tongue adjudge thee unto hell,Which pray’d forgiveness…

  • ‘In Memory of my dear grandchild Elizabeth Bradstreet’ by Anne Bradstreet (1612-1672)

    Anne Bradstreet stares at the worst that can happen, and the worst that can happen stares straight back

  • ‘Love’ by George Herbert (1593-1633)

    Love bade me welcome; yet my soul drew back, Guilty of dust and sin.But quick-eyed Love, observing me grow slack From my first entrance in,Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning If I lack’d anything. 6‘A guest,’ I answer’d, ‘worthy to be here:’ Love said, ‘You shall be he.’‘I, the unkind, ungrateful? Ah, my dear, I…

  • ‘Upon a Wasp’ by Edward Taylor (1642-1729)

    The bear that breathes the northern blastDid numb, torpedo-like, a waspWhose stiffened limbs encramped, lay bathingIn Sol’s warm breath and shine as saving,Which with her hands she chafes and standsRubbing her legs, shanks, thighs, and hands.Her pretty toes, and fingers’ endsNipped with this breath, she out extendsUnto the sun, in great desireTo warm her digits…

  • ‘The Salutation’ by Thomas Traherne (1637-1674)

    These little limbs,These eyes and hands which here I find,These rosy cheeks wherewith my life begins, Where have ye been? Behind 4What curtain were ye from me hid so long?Where was, in what abyss, my speaking tongue When silent I So many thousand, thousand yearsBeneath the dust did in a Chaos lie, 9 How could…