The BlueIris Semi-Nightly Poetry Break, 4/2/10

[BlueIris]

"Discipline"

Throw away Thy rod, 
Throw away Thy wrath; 
   O my God, 
Take the gentle path! 

For my heart's desire 
Unto Thine is bent: 
   I aspire 
To a full consent. 

Not a word or look 
I affect to own, 
   But by book, 
And Thy Book alone. 

Though I fail, I weep; 
Though I halt in pace, 
   Yet I creep 
To the throne of grace. 

Then let wrath remove; 
Love will do the deed; 
   For with love 
Stony hearts will bleed. 

Love is swift of foot; 
Love's a man of war, 
   And can shoot, 
And can hit from far. 

Who can 'scape his bow? 
That which wrought on Thee, 
   Brought Thee low, 
Needs must work on me. 

Throw away Thy rod; 
Though man frailties hath, 
   Thou art God: 
Throw away Thy wrath!

--George Herbert

[Tuesday Afternoon]

1. so many levels to this one

layers added by the years. Our modern eyes.

[BlueIris]

2. George Herbert is one of the more interesting figures from the Early Modern period.

I've liked him since my junior year in college, and yes, he remains relevant to contemporary readers.