Poem of the Week: To Keep a True Lent

To Keep a True Lent

 

 ROBERT HERRICK

Is this a Fast, to keep

The Larder lean?

And clean

From fat of veals and sheep?

Is it to quit the dish

Of flesh,

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yet still to fill

The platter high with fish?

Is it to fast an hour,

Or ragg’d go,

Or show

A downcast look and sour?

No: ’tis a Fast to dole

Thy sheaf of wheat

And meat

Unto the hungry soul.

It is to fast from strife

And old debate,

And hate;

To circumcise thy life.

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To show a heart grief-rent;

To starve thy sin,

Not bin;

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And that’s to keep thy Lent.