ENG LYRIC POETRY.pdf - STIBA Malang

SUBSTANCE AND STYLE IN GEORGE HERBERT
respectful quotation from Psalm 29, “in his temple doth every man speak of his
honour,” but the uncensored sounds of the heart in full motion. Expressions of
unutterable grief that still manage to get spoken:
Oh all ye, who passe by, whose eyes and minde
To worldly things are sharp, but to me blinde;
To me, who took eyes that I might you finde:
Was ever grief like mine?
(“The Sacrifice”)
Of joy that seems to have no business being:
And now in age I bud again,
After so many deaths I live and write;
I once more smell the dew and rain,
And relish versing: O my onely light,
It cannot be
That I am he
On whom thy tempests fell all night.
Of absolute rebellion that proves eventually not to be absolute:
I struck the board, and cry’d, No more.
I will abroad.
What? shall I ever sigh and pine?
My lines and life are free; free as the rode,
Loose as the winde, as large as store.
Shall I be still in suit?
Of a jingle that contains a magical tincture for all:
All may of thee partake:
Nothing can be so mean,
Which with this tincture (for thy sake)
Will not grow bright and clean.
Of complete helplessness:
Ah my deare God! though I am clean forgot,
Let me not love thee, if I love thee not.
152
(“The Flower”)
(“The Collar”)
(“The Elixir”)
(“Affliction” [I])