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