Poetry Chaikhana
Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Christian : Protestant

Secular or Eclectic : Alchemy

17th Century

Wales

Henry Vaughan

Timeline (1621 - 1695)

Poems by Henry Vaughan
Books - Links

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Henry Vaughan is one of the best known of the British Metaphysical poets. He was born in Wales. Most historians assume that he attended Oxford with his twin brother Thomas Vaughan, who later became a famous alchemist and hermetic philosopher.

When the English Civil War broke out, Vaughan took the king's side in South Wales.

Vaughan had a powerful mystical conversion which he links to the inspired poetry of George Herbert. But, in contrast to Herbert's praises of institutional religion, Vaughan was more immediate and overtly mystical in his spirituality, describing ecstatic states of communion with the divine and a deep affinity for the natural world.

Henry Vaughan eventually settled into the life of a well-respected physician. He married in 1646, the same year that his first collection of poetry was published. In 1650, the first part of what would become his greatest collection of poetry, Silex Scintillus (The Fiery Flint), was published. Five years later, a second edition was published, with several additional poems.

He had three children by his first wife and, after she died, he remarried, having two more children with his second wife.

Poems by Henry Vaughan

	The Morning Watch
	The Night
	Unprofitableness
	Vain wits and eyes
	Vanity of Spirit

Recommended Books

	Henry Vaughan: Oxford Poetry Library, by Henry Vaughan Amazon.com
	Henry Vaughan: Selected Writings, by Henry Vaughan / Edited by Anne Cluysenaar Amazon.com
	Henry Vaughan: The Complete Poems, by Henry Vaughan Amazon.com
	Metaphysical Poetry: (Penguin Classics), Edited by Colin Burrow Amazon.com
	Metaphysical Poetry: An Anthology (Dover Thrift Edition), Edited by Paul Negri Amazon.com

Related Links:

	Henry Vaughan (1621-1695) http://www.luminarium.org/sevenlit/vaughan/ A good, but brief biography of Henry Vaughan. Many of his poems online.
	Vaughan http://www.poetsgraves.co.uk/vaughan.htm Brief biography and some links.

Please support the Poetry Chaikhana, as well as the authors and publishers of sacred poetry, by purchasing some of the recommended books through the links on this site. Thank you!

Poetry Chaikhana Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Henry Vaughan

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Poetry Chaikhana
Sacred Poetry from Around the World