Spiritual Sunday
Lent is the season for paring away the extraneous so that we can focus on what is essential, which makes George Herbert’s “Paradise” a good Lenten poem. To be sure, most of Herbert’s poems can be regarded as Lenten poems since the poet never ceases to grapple with his wayward thoughts and desires, asking God to help him get back on track. In “Paradise,” he regards God as a pruner whose ministrations, even when severe, will lead to a healthier plant.
The image is of fruit trees in a walled garden. What dazzles about the poem is the way Herbert successively prunes the end word of each triplet line, which holds out the promise of new growth. When God spares his harshest judgment, choosing instead to prune and pare, “ev’n fruitful trees more fruitful are.”
“Paradise” isn’t exactly an image poem, the way that “Easter Wings” and “The Altar” are, but it has a visual dimension. As you read it, keep in mind that the 17th century did not insist on correct spelling as much as we do today, which allows Herbert to get away with “ow” for “owe” and “frend” for “friend.”
Paradise
I Bless thee, Lord, because I GROW
Among thy trees, which in a ROW
To thee both fruit and order OW.
What open force, or hidden CHARM
Can blast my fruit, or bring me HARM,
While the enclosure is thine ARM?
Enclose me still for fear I START.
Be to me rather sharp and TART,
Then let me want thy hand & ART.
When thou dost greater judgments SPARE,
And with thy knife but prune and PARE,
Ev’n fruitful trees more fruitful ARE.
Such sharpness shows the sweetest FREND:
Such cuttings rather heal then REND:
And such beginnings touch their END.