To Keep a True Lent {poetry for lent}

Three things:
1)This poem brings to mind prophecy:
Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?
Isaiah 58:6

2)Sometimes I think the things I give up for Lent I give up for myself - to "starve my bin," as Herrick puts it - to lose five pounds - instead of giving things up as a way of starving my sin, or of making myself more aware of my need for God. I think Herrick knows this.

3)Another thing I like about this poem is its description of Lent as fasting from "...from strife, /From old debate/ And hate" -- seems to me that's a pretty good description of what it means to give up Facebook for Lent.


TO KEEP A TRUE LENT.
by Robert Herrick


IS this a fast, to keep
                The larder lean ?
                            And clean
From fat of veals and sheep ?

Is it to quit the dish
                Of flesh, yet still
                            To fill
The platter high with fish ?

Is it to fast an hour,
                Or ragg’d to go,
                            Or show
A downcast look and sour ?

No ;  ‘tis a fast to dole
                Thy sheaf of wheat,
                            And meat,
Unto the hungry soul.

It is to fast from strife,
                From old debate
                            And hate ;
To circumcise thy life.

To show a heart grief-rent ;
                To starve thy sin,
                            Not bin ;
And that’s to keep thy Lent.