G Herbert read by Classic Poetry Aloud:

http://www.classicpoetryaloud.com/

Giving voice to the poetry of the past.

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Mattins

by George Herbert (1593 – 1633)

I cannot ope mine eyes,

But thou art ready there to catch

My morning-soul and sacrifice:

Then we must needs for that day make a match.

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.

First aired: 1 August 2009

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