Friends... Do you have any favourite poetry on holy subjects, especially by Anglicans? My favourite is Rev. George Herbert, a man of a mere 40 years on Earth, who died in 1633 after four years of being a priest in the Church of England. Almost all his poetry is about his relationship to the Master. Here are three of my favourites, which bring me closer to God than almost anything in theology! VIRTUE SWEET day, so cool, so calm, so bright, The bridal of the earth and sky : The dew shall weep thy fall to-night ; For thou must die. Sweet rose, whose hue angry and brave Bids the rash gazer wipe his eye, Thy root is ever in its grave, And thou must die. Sweet spring, full of sweet days and roses, A box where sweets compacted lie, My music shows you have your closes, And all must die. Only a sweet and virtuous soul, Like seasoned timber, never gives ; But though the whole world turn to coal, Then chiefly lives. THE THIRD POEM ENTITLED LOVE Love bade me welcome, yet my soul drew back, Guilty of dust and sin. But quick-eyed Love, observing me grow slack From my first entrance in, Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning If I lacked anything. "A guest," I answered, "worthy to be here"; Love said, "You shall be he." "I, the unkind, the ungrateful? ah my dear, I cannot look on thee." Love took my hand and smiling did reply, "Who made the eyes but I?" "Truth, Lord, but I have marred them; let my shame Go where it doth deserve." "And know you not," says Love, "who bore the blame?" "My dear, then I will serve." "You must sit down," says Love, "and taste my meat." So I did sit and eat. THE CALL Come, my Way, my Truth, my Life : Such a Way, as gives us breath : Such a Truth, as ends all strife : And such a Life, as killeth death. Come, my Light, my Feast, my Strength : Such a Light, as shows a feast : Such a Feast, as mends in length : Such a Strength, as makes his guest. Come, my Joy, my Love, my Heart : Such a Joy, as none can move : Such a Love, as none can part : Such a Heart, as joys in love.
I'm fan of George Herbert's poetry myself - started a thread on his poetry last year: http://forums.anglican.net/threads/any-fans-of-george-herbert.38/
The Song of Mary Luke 1:46-55 46 And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. 48 For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. 49 For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name. 50 And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52 He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things, And the rich He has sent away empty. 54 He has helped His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy, 55 As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and to his seed forever.”
I like Herbert's poetry, but also Herrick's.He was a 17th, Century Anglican Priest, who was thrown out of his living by the Calvinists either during or after the War of Religion. He wrote secular poems as well as religious ones, truth to tell, he was my favourite and he had an eye for the ladies which is a change! There is of course John Donne, another one whom I enjoy, but his poems can't be picked up and read for the moment. I find them heavy and truth to tell stressful.In fact I think the Cavalier Poets are the best, Suckling and the others Campion, though he's a bit early!
The following are two interesting anthologies. George Herbert and the Seventeenth-Century Religious Poets. (1978). [M. A. Di Cesare, ed..]. New York: W. W. Norton & Company. Contains the texts, footnotes, and criticism endnotes for George Herbert, Richard Crashaw, Andrew Marvel, Henry Vaughan, and Thomas Traherne. The texts are arranged by author.The Beauty of Holiness: The Caroline Divines and Their Writings. (2012). [B. Guyer, ed.]. [Canterbury Studies in Spiritual Theology.]. Norwich, UK: Canterbury Press. Contains the texts of poetry (and prose), introductions, and footnotes of the major Anglican theologians and devotional writers who flourished under Charles I (1625-49) and Charles II (1649-85). The texts are arranged by theme. ...Scottish Monk