A short poem today, by George Herbert.
Jesu
JESU is in my heart, his sacred name
Is deeply carved there: but th’other week
A great affliction broke the little frame,
Ev’n all to pieces: which I went to seek:
And first I found the corner, where was J,
After, where ES, and next where U was graved.
When I had got these parcels, instantly
I sat me down to spell them, and perceived
That to my broken heart he was I ease you,
And to my whole is JESU.
Note: The letter “J” is quite a recent addition to the language, Romans used “I” for our modern letter “J”.
From Wikipedia: “George Herbert (3 April 1593 – 1 March 1633) was a Welsh-born English poet, orator and Anglican priest.” This poem is one that often recurs to me – that Jesus is I Ease You…
Related articles
- The Poetry of George Herbert: “The Sacrifice” (Pt. 3) (cwoznicki.wordpress.com)
- An Anglican Minister Bears His Soul (imallbooked.com)
- The Poetry of George Herbert: “The Sacrifice” (Pt. 2) (cwoznicki.wordpress.com)
- The Poetry of George Herbert: “The Sacrifice” (Pt. 1) (cwoznicki.wordpress.com)
- Featured Poem: The Pulley by George Herbert (thereaderonline.co.uk)
I love George Herbert, but hadn’t seen this poem before – thanks for sharing! Do you know his Easter Wings?
Don’t think I’ve seen that one! I had a book of poems by him, but most of them were in Latin so I wasn’t able to read them!
This is Easter Wings: http://www.ccel.org/h/herbert/temple/Easterwings.html It’s one of my favourites. 🙂