The Storm
The Cry of the Storm within
The poet wishes his lament would move God as storms move mortals, then notes that even stars have storms, and finally describes how a remorseful conscience storms heaven itself.
If my sighs and tears were as busy above as the winds and waters fly and flow down here below, they would surely move you and affect you deeply — just as stormy times amaze poor mortals and set their crimes before them.1 Stars have their storms too, even fierce ones, just as we do. A throbbing conscience spurred by remorse has a strange force: it leaves the earth, and climbing higher and higher, dares to assault you and besiege your door.
The Sound That Demands an Answer
Conscience knocks at heaven‘s door, silencing praise and setting glory aside until it is answered, yet the storm is honored as a purifying grace.
There it stands knocking, spoiling your music, and drowning out the song.✦2 Glory and honor are set aside until it gets an answer.✦3 Poets have wronged poor storms: days like these are best; they purge the air outside, and within the breast.
Read the original English
IF as the windes and waters here below Do flie and flow, My sighs and tears as busie were above; Sure they would move And much affect thee, as tempestuous times Amaze poore mortals, and object their crimes.
Starres have their storms, ev'n in a high degree, As well as we. A throbbing conscience spurred by remorse Hath a strange force: It quits the earth, and mounting more and more, Dares to assault thee, and besiege thy doore.
There it stands knocking, to thy musicks wrong, And drowns the song. Glorie and honour are set by till it An answer get. Poets have wrong'd poore storms: such dayes are best; They purge the aire without, within the breast.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Rev.3.20 — Look, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to them and eat with them, and they with me.
- ↩Rom.2.10;1Tim.1.17 — But glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does good—to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 1Tim.1.17 — Now to the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Notes
- 1 ↩Early Modern 'object' here means present or set before the mind (as a charge), not 'raise an objection.'
- 2 ↩Source 'to thy musicks wrong' means to the injury/disruption of your music (praise); rendered as 'spoiling your music' rather than the archaic genitive construction.
- 3 ↩'Set by' is Early Modern for set aside / put by; glory and honor wait until the conscience-storm is answered.
The Temple: Sacred Poems and Private Ejaculations companion
A prayer for every moment, already on your phone
Chosen Portion puts a curated historic prayer in front of you each day — so the words are there before the moment arrives.
Chosen Portion is the digital descendant of the carried prayer book: the short daily prayers this collection preserves, delivered one a day to your pocket.
- One short, memorable prayer delivered daily — build your repertoire a card at a time
- Prayers matched to real situations: fear, gratitude, decisions, grief, sleep
- Save favourites into your personal pocket collection you can open anywhere