Just, wow - what an intense and intensely honest and vivid expression of the conflict inherent, it seems, in all calling. Such wrestling. And to conclude it with an apparent allusion to the calling of Samuel which reads so mild by comparison is very affecting.
In his book, Music After Midnight: The Life and Poetry of George Herbert, John Drury observes that "‘The Altar’ and ‘Easter-wings’ ... are shaped and physically formed like their subjects. Those poems, however, make shapes to fit order. The marvel of ‘The Collar’ is that it makes a shape to fit disorder. There was, perhaps, nothing like that again until T. S. Eliot wrote The Waste Land." He also quotes Herbert's brother Edward saying of his sibling, ‘he was not exempt from passion and choler' and comments that "The Herberts were an inflammable lot. ‘Choler’ sounds just like ‘Collar’..."
As I was reading Herbert's 'Collar' and the surrounding struggle, I was reminded again of the shortest chapter (45) in the book of Jeremiah, the message from God to Baruch the scribe:
"Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel, unto thee, O Baruch:
Thou didst say, Woe is me now! for the Lord hath added grief to my sorrow; I fainted in my sighing, and I find no rest.
Thus shalt thou say unto him, The Lord saith thus; Behold, that which I have built will I break down, and that which I have planted I will pluck up, even this whole land.
And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not: for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the Lord: but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest."'
Thank you for starting with this poem. The final two lines are so powerful. They remind me of Jesus at the tomb saying, "Mary" and her reply of "Rabboni."
Karen, I'm so happy that you're bringing us some illumination of Herbert's poetry. I started reading his work I believe in 2013, and was stopped in my track so many times by the beauty of his subject and the style... it made my English major heart so happy. However, I often wished I had a teacher to help me interpret many of the poems. What a blessing to be in your classroom today.
I was determined to understand this one. I read it through a few times, and by the fourth read, I followed the punctuation and not the line breaks. My struggle is that my mind wants to interpret how it was taught to interpret the Bible—literally. So, I first imagined he was on a boat fleeing from his calling as a minister, but I understood that it was not quite right. I skipped your explanation and listened to you read the poem—aha! The meaning began to take shape. Then I read your explanation, and then I listened to it again. :-)
He wrestles with what my husband and I ( and I imagine all ministers) did on the mission field—thoughts and feelings of "Is it worth it? Did we do enough? Why does it seem like God is not blessing our work." There was anger, resentment, and confusion until God gently tapped us on the shoulder (a few times) and reminded us that our work was not about us but Him. I see that in Herbert's conclusion.
I’m so glad listening helps! I hated that I made a couple of errrors…8 minutes it more in, haha! But it’s ok I think. Unless we are professional orators or actors (I am neither), we aren’t going to read perfectly. But I’m really glad it helps!
Yes. I'll just add that in my own calling to the mission field, I began with a certain pride or arrogance that God was in need of my skills. I soon began to see that this calling was the refining fire He would use to bring me to my knees and remake me from the heart out.
This is so accurate! 🥲 A beautiful and difficult transformation happened to both my husband and I. obviously, I’m still work in progress, but I embrace it now and welcome it rather than thinking I’ve “arrived” and am God’s answer to people.
For the life of me, I wish I could remember the poet who remarked that Herbert is the poet's poet: that his craft is so perfect that Herbert could teach any poet. For some reason, I think the one who said this is an African American poet, but I've read so many Black poets in the past 4 years that this doesn't narrow the possibilities.
No spoilers for those who don't know Herbert's work, but poems like "The Altar" and "Easter Wings" have definitely influenced Dylan Thomas and Clint Smith. You can guess the commonality.
I love that you're thinking to cover Prayer (1), Karen. You might well know this - but if not - Tim Keller has a lovely section in his book on prayer where he works through Herbert's poem, commenting on various aspects of it; it's a beautifully devotional piece, really worth a read. I posted it to my Substack sub-section a few months back - https://thewaitingcountry.substack.com/p/prayers-immense-riches
My introduction to Herbert was through a beloved post-college friend who became a radicalized ChristKirker. I'm so glad for this opportunity to have a "do over" with his work - he's so worth it!
I’ve been thinking about this poem all week. Your comments, friends, have been so rich. My attention was just drawn to these lines, lines that really must be read and heard *just right* I think to really get:
Have I no harvest but a thorn
To let me blood, and not restore
What I have lost with cordial fruit?
Let me paraphrase this passage a bit because I think it contains so much.
It’s asking/saying: Do I have no harvest but a thorn that draws my blood and does not restore that blood with any fruit?
And here”cordial” refers also to wine … Christ’s blood. Herbert sees no fruit from this thorny vine. He also does not see the restoration of his suffering and labor with Christ’s blood.
By the end, he’s come to his senses, but here he is questioning it and questioning everything.
I was struck by the first quotation from Herbert that you included, as he describes the "two most sad spectacles." In speaking of "Sin and Misery," he reflects the two great commandments: He views sin in light of not loving God with all your heart: "God dishonoured every day," and he shows his compassion for his neighbor in describing Misery as "man afflicted."
My college English Literature professor did an amazing job highlighting Herbert and his skill, depth, and devotion. I've appreciated his work ever since, and I'm thankful for the nudge to revisit his works.
Just, wow - what an intense and intensely honest and vivid expression of the conflict inherent, it seems, in all calling. Such wrestling. And to conclude it with an apparent allusion to the calling of Samuel which reads so mild by comparison is very affecting.
In his book, Music After Midnight: The Life and Poetry of George Herbert, John Drury observes that "‘The Altar’ and ‘Easter-wings’ ... are shaped and physically formed like their subjects. Those poems, however, make shapes to fit order. The marvel of ‘The Collar’ is that it makes a shape to fit disorder. There was, perhaps, nothing like that again until T. S. Eliot wrote The Waste Land." He also quotes Herbert's brother Edward saying of his sibling, ‘he was not exempt from passion and choler' and comments that "The Herberts were an inflammable lot. ‘Choler’ sounds just like ‘Collar’..."
That is a brilliant observation, Richard. Thank you for sharing it. I love this poem so very much.
The "choler"/"collar" pun is certainly intended.
As I was reading Herbert's 'Collar' and the surrounding struggle, I was reminded again of the shortest chapter (45) in the book of Jeremiah, the message from God to Baruch the scribe:
"Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel, unto thee, O Baruch:
Thou didst say, Woe is me now! for the Lord hath added grief to my sorrow; I fainted in my sighing, and I find no rest.
Thus shalt thou say unto him, The Lord saith thus; Behold, that which I have built will I break down, and that which I have planted I will pluck up, even this whole land.
And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not: for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the Lord: but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest."'
Now that you point out that comparison,
Holly, I can hear the echoes too. Herbert surely knew scripture so well that he breathed it.
Thank you for starting with this poem. The final two lines are so powerful. They remind me of Jesus at the tomb saying, "Mary" and her reply of "Rabboni."
Oh, yes! Beautiful connection, Terri. Thank you.
Karen, I'm so happy that you're bringing us some illumination of Herbert's poetry. I started reading his work I believe in 2013, and was stopped in my track so many times by the beauty of his subject and the style... it made my English major heart so happy. However, I often wished I had a teacher to help me interpret many of the poems. What a blessing to be in your classroom today.
Oh, Jody. Thank you so much. That means so much!
I'm glad class is back.
I was determined to understand this one. I read it through a few times, and by the fourth read, I followed the punctuation and not the line breaks. My struggle is that my mind wants to interpret how it was taught to interpret the Bible—literally. So, I first imagined he was on a boat fleeing from his calling as a minister, but I understood that it was not quite right. I skipped your explanation and listened to you read the poem—aha! The meaning began to take shape. Then I read your explanation, and then I listened to it again. :-)
He wrestles with what my husband and I ( and I imagine all ministers) did on the mission field—thoughts and feelings of "Is it worth it? Did we do enough? Why does it seem like God is not blessing our work." There was anger, resentment, and confusion until God gently tapped us on the shoulder (a few times) and reminded us that our work was not about us but Him. I see that in Herbert's conclusion.
Thanks Karen. Excellent, as always.
I’m so glad listening helps! I hated that I made a couple of errrors…8 minutes it more in, haha! But it’s ok I think. Unless we are professional orators or actors (I am neither), we aren’t going to read perfectly. But I’m really glad it helps!
And yes—follow the punctuation!
It's a-okay Karen. It sounded good to me!
Yes. I'll just add that in my own calling to the mission field, I began with a certain pride or arrogance that God was in need of my skills. I soon began to see that this calling was the refining fire He would use to bring me to my knees and remake me from the heart out.
Wow. That’s a word. I have to confess, I have struggled with that as well. God has so much to teach us. Herbert, too.
This is so accurate! 🥲 A beautiful and difficult transformation happened to both my husband and I. obviously, I’m still work in progress, but I embrace it now and welcome it rather than thinking I’ve “arrived” and am God’s answer to people.
For the life of me, I wish I could remember the poet who remarked that Herbert is the poet's poet: that his craft is so perfect that Herbert could teach any poet. For some reason, I think the one who said this is an African American poet, but I've read so many Black poets in the past 4 years that this doesn't narrow the possibilities.
No spoilers for those who don't know Herbert's work, but poems like "The Altar" and "Easter Wings" have definitely influenced Dylan Thomas and Clint Smith. You can guess the commonality.
I’ve not heard that description before but it is PERFECT.
I love that you're thinking to cover Prayer (1), Karen. You might well know this - but if not - Tim Keller has a lovely section in his book on prayer where he works through Herbert's poem, commenting on various aspects of it; it's a beautifully devotional piece, really worth a read. I posted it to my Substack sub-section a few months back - https://thewaitingcountry.substack.com/p/prayers-immense-riches
Oh wow! Thanks for sharing this, Richard!
I will be sure to link to your post when I cover this poem.
My introduction to Herbert was through a beloved post-college friend who became a radicalized ChristKirker. I'm so glad for this opportunity to have a "do over" with his work - he's so worth it!
I am glad to be able to offer a do-over! 🩵
I’ve been thinking about this poem all week. Your comments, friends, have been so rich. My attention was just drawn to these lines, lines that really must be read and heard *just right* I think to really get:
Have I no harvest but a thorn
To let me blood, and not restore
What I have lost with cordial fruit?
Let me paraphrase this passage a bit because I think it contains so much.
It’s asking/saying: Do I have no harvest but a thorn that draws my blood and does not restore that blood with any fruit?
And here”cordial” refers also to wine … Christ’s blood. Herbert sees no fruit from this thorny vine. He also does not see the restoration of his suffering and labor with Christ’s blood.
By the end, he’s come to his senses, but here he is questioning it and questioning everything.
So powerful. So real.
I was struck by the first quotation from Herbert that you included, as he describes the "two most sad spectacles." In speaking of "Sin and Misery," he reflects the two great commandments: He views sin in light of not loving God with all your heart: "God dishonoured every day," and he shows his compassion for his neighbor in describing Misery as "man afflicted."
My college English Literature professor did an amazing job highlighting Herbert and his skill, depth, and devotion. I've appreciated his work ever since, and I'm thankful for the nudge to revisit his works.