Now that we are in the season of Lent, I’m sure we are all thinking about what we can give up for the duration. Chocolate? Cigarettes? Alcohol? Here is what I think is some excellent advice from – who else? – Robert Herrick. There may have been some particular significance for his parishioners at the time that he wrote it -perhaps that the proto-Cavalier (High Church) faction shouldn’t make too great a show of giving up meat then stuffing their faces with fish on the one hand – on the other that the Puritan faction shouldn’t be too ostentatious in their fasting and general misery-guttedness – but I think his general point remains valid.
I’m rather tempted to give up blogging and hand the whole thing over to Herrick – he does seem to have an appropriate poem for every occasion.
To Keep a True Lent
by Robert Herrick
IS this a fast, to keep
The larder lean ?
And clean
From fat of veals and sheep ?
Is it to quit the dish
Of flesh, yet still
To fill
The platter high with fish ?
Is it to fast an hour,
Or ragg’d to go,
Or show
A downcast look and sour ?
No ; ‘tis a fast to dole
Thy sheaf of wheat,
And meat,
Unto the hungry soul.
It is to fast from strife,
From old debate
And hate ;
To circumcise thy life.
To show a heart grief-rent ;
To starve thy sin,
Not bin ;
And that’s to keep thy Lent.
I’m ashamed to say that I’d never heard of Robert Herrick before your blog. I showed it to The Aged Parent who said “Oh for God’s sake, EVERYONE knows Robert Herrick!” That’s me told. A very pleasing discovery. Please don’t give up blogging though.
No, I haven’t given up. Been at it again this evening, in fact.
Actually all I knew about Herrick were the two or three of his that turn up in anthologies sometimes. Didn’t even realise he’d been a clergyman. He is good, though, isn’t he? Glad you’re enjoying them.
One thing I find I’m enjoying most about writing this, in fact, is rediscovering writers I’d forgotten or knew little about in the first place.
This s a great poem.
i enjoyed reading this
Nice to hear from you, kseverny. I like it a lot. Pleased you feel the same way. All the best with the blog.