by George Herbert
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, 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.
This poem deals with the soul`s acceptance into communion with God in heaven rather than simply in the holy communion service. It is based on a passage in which Jesus condemns concern for things of this life, since death at any time and then Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he shall grid himself, and make them to sit down and to meat and will come forth and serve them.
The Literary World 