Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE ALTAR by GEORGE HERBERT

Poem Explanation Poet Analysis

First Line: A BROKEN ALTAR, LORD, THY SERVANT REARES
Last Line: AND SANCTIFIE THIS ALTAR TO BE THINE.
Subject(s): ALTARS; DOUBT; IMMORTALITY; SKEPTICISM;

A BROKEN altar, Lord, thy servant reares,
Made of a heart, and cemented with teares:
Whose parts are as thy hand did frame;
No workmans tool hath touch'd the same.
A heart alone
Is such a stone,
As nothing but
Thy pow'r doth cut.
Wherefore each part
Of my hard heart
Meets in this frame,
To praise thy name:
That, if I chance to hold my peace,
These stones to praise thee may not cease.
O let thy blessed sacrifice be mine,
And sanctifie this altar to be thine.



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