Love bade me welcome. Yet my soul drew back
Guilty of dust and sin.
But quick-eyed Love, observing me grow slack
From my first entrance in,
Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning,
If I lacked any thing.

A guest, I answered, worthy to be here:
Love said, you shall be he.
I the unkind, ungrateful?  Ah my dear,
I cannot look on thee.
Love took my hand, and smiling did reply,
Who made the eyes but I?

Truth Lord, but I have marred them: let my shame
Go where it doth deserve,
And know you not, says Love, who bore the blame?
My dear, then I will serve.
You must sit down, says Love, and taste my meat:
So I did sit and eat.

By George Herbert, 1593-1632

I love this poem about a conversation between a man and God whom the man calls “Love.” Don’t many of us long for a close relationship with God? And if you were invited to dine with Him, what would you want to say?

George Herbert was an Anglican priest. Before he died, he sent his poems to a friend telling him that if he thought they were any good, to publish the poems after he died. His friend had them published in The Temple a few months after his death. The rest is history folks! He’s considered one of the great English metaphysical poets of his times.