Love (Iii) Poem by George Herbert

Love (Iii)

Rating: 3.2


Love bade me welcome: yet my soul drew back,
Guilty of dust and sin.
But quick-ey'd Love, observing me grow slack,
From my first entrance in,
Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning,
If I lack'd anything.

A guest, I answer'd, worthy to be here:
Love said, You shall be he.
I the unkind, ungrateful? Ah my dear,
I cannot look on thee.
Love took my hand, and smiling did reply,
Who made the eyes but I?

Truth Lord, but I have marr'd them: let my shame
Go where it doth deserve.
And know you not, says Love, who bore the blame?
My dear, then I will serve.
You must sit down, says Love, and tast me meat:
So I did sit and eat.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Martin Freye 22 December 2017

Thank you Curmudgeon, good response with which I agree.

1 0 Reply
Martin Freye 05 December 2017

Introduced by a friend, retired English master, the second line confused me, why 'Dust', I wondered but he suggested it might refer to that which sticks to us through life and experience.

0 0 Reply
Curmudgeon 17 December 2017

Genesis 2: 7 tells how God created man from the dust of the earth and Herbert would have believed in the doctrine of original sin - that all bear the burden of Adam's transgression and are sinful by nature. Love (Christ) both changes and redeems if one is willing to sit and eat.

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George Herbert

George Herbert

Montgomery, Wales
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