Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume IV. The Higher Life. 1904. | | | | VI. Human Experience | | A True Lent | | Robert Herrick (1591–1674) |
| | | IS this a fast,—to keep | |
| The larder lean, | |
| And clean | |
| From fat of veals and sheep? | |
| |
| Is it to quit the dish | 5 |
| Of flesh, yet still | |
| To fill | |
| The platter high with fish? | |
| |
| Is it to fast an hour, | |
| Or ragg’d to go, | 10 |
| Or show | |
| A downcast look, and sour? | |
| |
| No! ’t is a fast to dole | |
| Thy sheaf of wheat, | |
| And meat, | 15 |
| Unto the hungry soul. | |
| |
| It is to fast from strife, | |
| From old debate | |
| And hate,— | |
| To circumcise thy life. | 20 |
| |
| To show a heart grief-rent; | |
| To starve thy sin, | |
| Not bin,— | |
| And that ’s to keep thy Lent. | | | | |
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