Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, GRATITUDE, by CHRISTOPHER SMART


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

GRATITUDE, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: I upon the first creation / clapped my wings with loud applause
Last Line: Weaned from earth, and led to god.
Subject(s): Adam & Eve; Bible; Creation; Eden; Gardens & Gardening; Gratitude; Religion; Theology


I UPON the first creation
Clapped my wings with loud applause,
Cherub of the highest station,
Praising, blessing, without pause.

I in Eden's bloomy bowers
Was the heav'nly gard'ner's pride,
Sweet of sweets, and flow'r of flowers,
With the scented tinctures dyed.

Hear, ye little children, hear me,
I am God's delightful voice;
They who sweetly still revere me,
Still shall make the wisest choice.

Hear me not like Adam trembling,
When I walked in Eden's grove;
And the host of heav'n assembling,
From the spot the traitor drove.

Hear me rather as the lover
Of mankind, restored and free;
By the word ye shall recover
More than that ye lost by Me.

I'm the Phoenix of the singers
That in upper Eden dwell;
Hearing me Euphrates lingers,
As my wondrous tale I tell.

'Tis the story of the Graces,
Mercies without end or sum;
And the sketches and the traces
Of ten thousand more to come.

List, my children, list within you,
Dread not ye the tempter's rod;
Christ our gratitude shall win you,
Weaned from earth, and led to God.





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