George Herbert Week (V) Start the Day with a Metaphysical Poet

Some of us are morning people, others reach their most alert a bit later than the day, and some work best at the hours of changeover, after 10 o'clock at night. In Christian spiritual practices first thing in the morning, or at least soon after waking, which may not be early morning, has often been considered moments which firstly and rightly belong to God.

George Herbert was a parish priest, and a man of intense if refined piety. His collection of poems contains a number which I use now and then as prayers, including Matins, his morning prayer poem. (Incidentally I have just read it, and in the background had put on a CD by Kiri Te Kanawa, Ave Maria - the track playing right now is Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring - words that Herbert could have penned and would certainly have owned)

Here is Herbert, beginning his day; there are worse ways to start.

My God, what is a heart?
Silver, or gold, or precious stone,
Or star, or rainbow, or a part
Of all these things or all of them in one?

My God, what is a heart?
That thou should'st it so eye, and woo,
Pouring upon it all thy art,
As if that thou hadst nothing else to do?

Indeed man's whole estate
Amounts (and richly) to serve thee:
He did not heav'n and earth create,
Yet studies them, not him by whom they be.

Teach me thy love to know;
That this new light, which now I see,
May both the work and workman show:
Then by a sun-beam I will climb to thee.

George Herbert

Photo taken from our back window on a blustery Spring morning.

Comments

[David C Brown]

Another reflection on light!