Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Wednesday Words - Lent

To Keep a True Lent
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Is this a fast, to keep
The larder lean
And clean
From fat of veals and sheep ?
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Is it to quit the dish
Of flesh, yet still
To fill
The platter high with fish ?
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Is it to fast an hour,
Or ragg’d to go,
Or show
A downcast look and sour ?
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No ; ‘tis a fast to dole
Thy sheaf of wheat,
And meat,
Unto the hungry soul.
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It is to fast from strife,
From old debate
And hate ;
To circumcise thy life.
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To show a heart grief-rent ;
To starve thy sin,
Not bin;
And that’s to keep thy Lent.
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Robert Herrick 1591-1674

1 comment:

Sandy said...

Beautiful! Thank you for sharing!