Love 3 George Herbert

George Herbert explores the relationship between himself and “love” which is God in the poem “Love 3”. “Love” which has been personified as God greets the poet and bids him “welcome”. The poet uses the word “yet” which suggests that despite the being made to feel welcome, the poet himself from deep within his “soul” takes a step back. The phrase “Guilty of dust and sin”  implies that the poet, being human is mortal and has been evil in being so. These lines show that his mere being human makes him feel “guilty” owing to the deeds he commits and his mortal nature.

The use of the word “But” is not about however. The word “But” has been used to bring about a contrast. God being “quick-eyed” can clearly see that the man “grows slack”. God may be quick to respond and can feel the poet being hesitant.

Throughout the poem the poet feels inferior in his avatar of being human. Hence he does not feel that he deserves to be in the presence of “Love” which is god. The poem has a biblical reference in the lines  “I the unkind, ungrateful?” which could imply not being gratitude to god for what he has provided. The poet feels that he has disfigured, dismembered his “eyes” with the use of the words “marred”. The reader gets a feeling that the poet has looked at things he should not have, again being biblical in nature as if looking a tempting objects. The words “let my shame” hints again at the poet feeling inferior of having done deeds he should be ashamed of. The words “guilty of dust and sin” could further imply that the nature of man is such that he is tempted by food and riches of life  and giving in to temptation is sinful. In his being a human the poet thinks he is undeserving of even looking at  “thee” which is god. The poet considers himself so little, mere that he condemns his own self to be worthy of only “hell”.

God, on the other hand, is very understanding and filled with “love”. God is warm and kind throughout the poem. The words “bade me welcome” could mean that God was generous and benevolent. The term “quick-eyed” implies that God can perceive everything around him and even though the poet does not say anything God can feel that deep within the poet has withdrawn. God’s hospitality and assuring nature comes through with “sweetly questioning”. God made human, imperfect and that he does not expect them to be perfect is implied with “Who made the eyes but I?”

There is a reference to Jesus and his acceptance of his being crucified to take the “blame” for imperfections of humans in the line “who bore the blame?” God invites him to take the communion in the last line when God says “sit down” and “taste my meat”.

The imagery is that of a host and guest around dinner table having a conversation. The host is “welcoming” and asks the guest to have “meat”. The reader gets a feeling that he is watching two people have a conversation over dinner. The picture of the “guest” being hesitant and undeserving of a meal with a superior being comes through in the poem.

The tone keeps changing in the poem. It moves from being mild and gentle to feeling “guilty”. The poet’s tone of self-hatred comes through in “let my shame” to being firm and assertive “you shall be he”. The poet’s tone is submissive in the words “So I did sit and eat”. God’s tone is dignified and respectful when he “bade me welcome”. From being fearful the poet’s tone becomes accepting of god’s forgiveness.