He that made the ear (After George Herbert’s “Longing”)

My last George Herbert-inspired poem is a bit different to the other three. This time I have decided to use just two lines from his poem, “Longing”, as the stimulus for my own poem:

Lord heare! Shall he that made the ear

                                               Not heare?

 

It seemed a great place to start. The original poem is quite long so I won’t include it in this post. But you can read it here if you are interested. My poem is written in the form of a villanelle, which is a traditional French form that involves the cycling repetition of two refrains. I hope you enjoy it!

 

He that made the ear (After George Herbert’s “Longing”)

My heart lies at Your feet in fear.

My vision trembles and thoughts cry:

Shall He that made the ear not hear?

 

I wait through all the waiting year,

Bringing You my waning sigh;

My heart lies at Your feet in fear

 

And yet this quiet hope hangs near,

A question with no firm reply:

Shall He that made the ear not hear?

 

I watch, in hope You will appear;

Lord, hear! I cry. My words aim high –

My heart lies at Your feet in fear.

 

Clouds laugh at me and vacuums jeer;

But there is time still to defy.

Shall He that made the ear not hear?

 

The heavens sit, a blank frontier,

Yet nothing hides there from Your eye.

My heart lies at Your feet in fear…

Shall He that made the ear not hear?