Monday Morning Poetry: "The Pulley" (Herbert)

 I was never a morning person; and I'm definitely not a Monday morning person!  However, I'm trying to ease what is (for me) a rough transition by spending a few minutes with a classic poem.  Call it preemptive therapy.  Or call it "Monday Morning Poetry," which sounds much prettier, right?  Right.


So I'm tired and feel a nagging sense of discontent?  Well, here's George Herbert's take on it, echoing St. Augustine's ("Our hearts are restless 'til they rest in Thee"):

"The Pulley," by George Herbert

When God at first made man, 

Having a glass of blessings standing by, 

“Let us," said he, “pour on him all we can. 

Let the world’s riches, which disperséd lie, 

Contract into a span.” 

So strength first made a way; 

Then beauty flowed, then wisdom, honor, pleasure. 

When almost all was out, God made a stay, 

Perceiving that, alone of all his treasure, 

Rest in the bottom lay. 

“For if I should," said he, 

“Bestow this jewel also on my creature, 

He would adore my gifts instead of me, 

And rest in Nature, not the God of Nature; 

So both should losers be. 

“Yet let him keep the rest, 

But keep them with repining restlessness. 

Let him be rich and weary, that at least, 

If goodness lead him not, yet weariness 

May toss him to my breast.”

"Let him be rich and weary..."  That's parents all over, right?  Filled to the brim, and utterly exhausted!

Wishing everyone a happy Monday and a smooth week!