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Christian : Protestant
Secular or Eclectic : Alchemy
17th Century

About Henry Vaughan

Timeline (1621 - 1695)

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Original Language
English

Vain wits and eyes

Themes
  Fire
  Freedom
  Garden
  Light
  Smile

 

Recommended Books

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

Vain wits and eyes
Leave, and be wise
Abuse not, shun not holy fire,
But with true tears wash off your mire.
Tears and these flames will soon grow kind,
And mix an eye-salve for the blind.
Tears cleanse and supple without fail,
And fire will purge your callous veil,
Then comes the light! which when you spy,
And see your nakedness thereby,
Praise Him, who dealt His gifts so free
In tears to you, in fire to me.

 

 

-- from Henry Vaughan: The Complete Poems, by Henry Vaughan

Amazon.com

 

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Ivan M. Granger's original poetry, stories and commentaries are Copyright © 2002 - 2008 by Ivan M. Granger.
All other material is copyrighted by the respective authors, translators and/or publishers.