some thoughts

A favorite poem of mine:
To Mr. Lawrence
LAWRENCE, of virtuous father virtuous son,
Now that the fields are dank and ways are mire,
Where shall we sometimes meet, and by the fire
Help waste a sullen day, what may be won
From the hard season gaining? Time will run
On smoother, till Favonius reinspire
The frozen earth, and clothe in fresh attire
The […]

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Eight High peaks of affection, low valleys alone:
we’ve known these so well in our time.
All trouble and strife? No, my dear, I must thank you.
Yes! Thank you, for both, just the same!Lofty peaks, warm and living, surprising reminders,
Urge me upward toward love’s highest meaning:
To see Him who’s loved me, joining time’s greatest Song,
And hear, “Welcome, my […]

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To Megan, From Aron
February 2007
Go, my blue beauties, bring sweet sentiments of
daydreamings and endless clock-watchings;
Bend all your splendor to serve me, a creature,
and lend me your voice for a while:
“The heavens declare the [bright] glory of God,”
as well as each tender blue petal:
But once, just this once, will you add to your tune?
Will you sing […]

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Sonnet 29
William Shakespeare
When, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes,
I all alone beweep my outcast state
And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries
And look upon myself and curse my fate,
Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,
Featured like him, like him with friends possess’d,
Desiring this man’s art and that man’s scope,
With what I most […]

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Hast Thou no scar?
No hidden scar on foot, or side, or hand?
I hear thee sung as mighty in the land,
I hear them hail Thy bright, ascendant star,
Hast thou no scar?
Hast Thou no wound?
Yet I was wounded by the archers, spent,
Leaned Me against a tree to die; and rent
By ravening beasts that compassed me, I swooned:
Hast […]

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Francis Schaeffer wraps up his must-read essay, titled The Mark of the Christian, with this ever-relevant poem by Evangeline Paterson. It’s called “Lament.”
Weep, weep for those
Who do the work of the Lord
With a high look
And a proud heart.
Their voice is lifted up
In the streets, and their cry is heard.
The bruised reed they break
By their great […]

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BATTER my heart, three person’d God; for, you
As yet but knocke, breathe, shine, and seeke to mend;
That I may rise, and stand, o’erthrow mee, ‘and bend
Your force, to breake, blowe, burn and make me new.
I, like an usurpt towne, to’another due,
Labour to’admit you, but Oh, to no end,
Reason your viceroy in mee, mee should defend,
But […]

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I stood a mendicant of God before His royal throne
And begged him for one priceless gift, which I could call my own.
I took the gift from out His hand, but as I would depart
I cried, “But Lord this is a thorn and it has pierced my heart.
This is a strange, a hurtful gift, which Thou […]

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When I consider how my light is spent,
E’re half my days, in this dark world and wide,
And that one Talent which is death to hide,
Lodg’d with me useless, though my Soul more bent
To serve therewith my Maker, and present [ 5 ]
My true account, least he returning chide,
Doth God exact day labour, light deny’d,
I fondly […]

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NOT, I’ll not, carrion comfort, Despair, not feast on thee;
Not untwist—slack they may be—these last strands of man
In me ór, most weary, cry I can no more. I can;
Can something, hope, wish day come, not choose not to be.
(5) But ah, but O thou terrible, why wouldst thou rude on me
Thy wring-world right foot rock? […]

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