Living

To Mrs. Williams

by Charles Lamb 1775–1834

From The Works of Charles and Mary Lamb, IV: Poems and Plays, ed. E. V. Lucas

Living

Go little Poem, and present
Respectful terms of compliment;
A gentle lady bids thee speak!
Courteous is she, tho' thou be weak--
Evoke from Heaven as thick as manna

Joy after joy on Grace Joanna:
On Fornham's Glebe and Pasture land
A blessing pray. Long, long may stand,
Not touched by Time, the Rectory blithe;
No grudging churl dispute his Tithe;
At Easter be the offerings due

With cheerful spirit paid; each pew
In decent order filled; no noise
Loud intervene to drown the voice,
Learning, or wisdom of the Teacher;
Impressive be the Sacred Preacher,
And strict his notes on holy page;
May young and old from age to age
Salute, and still point out, 'The good man's Parsonage!'

MLA

Lamb, Charles. “To Mrs. Williams.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/lamb/117/.

Chicago

Lamb, Charles. “To Mrs. Williams.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/lamb/117/.

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