George Herbert (3 April 1593 – 1 March 1633 / Montgomery, Wales)

A man's religion is his business, none of mine;
but a secular mind with a Herbert's poetic gift
would be an interesting find.

wow thats a really good poem

Physical sickness afflicts all as time passes on and love and friend are nowhere near to care too! Finally the thought of God comes pleading for His love at last! This is the life of man showing clearly after pleasure comes pain and after happiness grief is sure in this world! Narration of life of man is fine!

The poem is also interesting in how it contains elements of Moderinsm and Existentialism, and foreshadows the works of later poets like Alfred Lord Tennyson and T.S. Eliot. In that sense, Herbert finds a prominent place in the larger tradition of 'dark night of the soul' writing, from the early 16th century to the present.
Also in narrativising experience through the medium of poetry, it raises questions of authorial self-construction, agency and activism. Although the issues are not explicitly explored, they are obvious to the modern reader's eye.
It is interesting how Herbert posits the persona as being a 'passive' object to God's authoritarian manipulations. He claims almost to have been forced into the vocation against his wishes. Nothing in his own life validates a situation like this. This is where the question of genuineness of his doubts and woes needs examination.

so far as the title of the poem is concerned, here affliction means spiritual pangs. when the poet was directed to the grace of god, he expected a number of benefits from his grace like heavenly pleasures and so on.

very deep and touching write...well, this time it doesn't sound like a prayer, but a complaint of someone who has lost his faith and love...
Powerful!