George Herbert(1593–1633)
Denial
W h e n m y d e v o t i o n s c o u l d n o t p i e r c e
T h y silent ears,
T h e n w a s m y heart b r o k e n , a s w a s m y verse;
M y breast w a s full o f fears
A n d disorder.
My b e n t t h o u g h t s , like a brittle b o w ,
D i d fly a s u n d e r :
Each took his way; some would to pleasures go,
Some to the wars and thunder
O f alarms.
"As g o o d go a n y w h e r e , " t h e y say,
"As to b e n u m b
B o t h k n e e s a n d heart, i n crying n i g h t a n d day,
Come, come, my God, O come!
B u t n o hearing.
O that t h o u s h o u l d s t give d u s t a t o n g u e
T o cry t o t h e e ,
A n d t h e n n o t h e a r it crying! All day l o n g
M y heart w a s i n m y k n e e , 2
B u t n o hearing.
T h e r e f o r e my soul lay o u t of sight,
U n t u n e d , u n s t r u n g :
M y f e e b l e spirit, u n a b l e t o l o o k right,
Like a n i p p e d b l o s s o m , h u n g
D i s c o n t e n t e d .
O c h e e r a n d t u n e my h e a r t l e s s breast,
D e f e r n o t i m e ;
T h a t s o thy favors granting m y r e q u e s t ,
They and my mind may chime, 0 ring together, agree
And mend my rhyme.