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Home  »  Lyra Sacra: A Book of Religious Verse  »  The Invitation

Henry Charles Beeching, ed. (1859–1919). Lyra Sacra: A Book of Religious Verse. 1903.

Anonymous

The Invitation

 
LORD, 1 what unvalued pleasures crown’d
    The days of old;
When Thou wert so familiar found,
    Those days were gold;
 
When Abram wished, Thou could’st afford        5
    With him to feast;
When Lot but said, “Turn in, my Lord,”
    Thou wert his guest.
 
But ah! this heart of mine doth pant
    And beat for Thee;        10
Yet Thou art strange, and will not grant
    Thyself to me!
 
What, shall thy people be so dear
    To Thee no more?
Or is not heaven to earth as near        15
    As heretofore?
 
The famished raven’s hoarser cry
    Finds out Thine ear;
My soul is famished and I die
    Unless Thou hear.        20
 
Note 1. Printed in Mr Brooke’s collection, referred to earlier. It would seem to be founded upon Herbert’s poem called “Decay.” [back]