Denial Poem by George Herbert

Denial

Rating: 2.7


When my devotions could not pierce
Thy silent ears;
Then was my heart broken, as was my verse:
My breast was full of fears
And disorder:

My bent thoughts, like a brittle bow,
Did fly asunder:
Each took his way; some would to pleasures go,
Some to the wars and thunder
Of alarms.

As good go any where, they say,
As to benumb
Both knees and heart, in crying night and day,
Come, come, my God, O come,
But no hearing.

O that thou shouldst give dust a tongue
To cry to thee,
And then not hear it crying! all day long
My heart was in my knee,
But no hearing.

Therefore my soul lay out of sight,
Untuned, unstrung:
My feeble spirit, unable to look right,
Like a nipped blossom, hung
Discontented.

O cheer and tune my heartless breast,
Defer no time;
That so thy favors granting my request,
They and my mind may chime,
And mend my rime.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Vikash raj 01 May 2018

👌👌👌👌👌👌

1 1 Reply
Khiaw Pin 30 September 2014

This is a heart of brokenness and also in denial. The title is not talking about God denying him but his denial of God. Second stanza showed that his thoughts were different from God's and, in third stanza, he wasn't willing nor ready to submit to God's. Therefore he experienced much anguish in unheard prayers and brokeness as most of us have experienced. The last stanza, however, showed some wllingness to relent, to tune his will, to break that layer of ice he had formed. It is only when we submit our desires to God do we find peace. Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37: 4 It was my experience too.

9 1 Reply
Sylva Portoian 31 January 2010

What I understand, He is praying but no one hears him!

5 1 Reply
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George Herbert

George Herbert

Montgomery, Wales
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