Love

Today I listened to a TedEx talk by a woman called Rachel Kelly who came to speak at KPMG about her experience of mental illness. The talk in itself was very inspiring and provided lots of useful tips for sufferers of anxiety and depression. However, what really captured me was a poem that she read out, which I hadn't heard before by a 17th century poet called George Herbert.

I am not a religious person and on the face of it, the poem appears to portray a dialogue with God. But, as with most poetry, I think it can be interpreted in many different ways. Sufferers of mental illness often battle with a daily internal dialogue and as Rachel pointed out, this poem showcases our two conflicting voices - the voice of love, forgiveness and compassion, and the voice of the worthless depressed part of you that never feels good enough. I hope you can relate to it too.

Love 

by George Herbert

Love bade me welcome, yet my soul drew back,

Guilty of dust and sin.

But quick-ey’d Love, observing me grow slack

From my first entrance in,

Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning

If I lack’d anything.

“A guest,” I answer’d, “worthy to be here”;

Love said, “You shall be he.”

“I, the unkind, the ungrateful? ah my dear,

I cannot look on thee.”

Love took my hand and smiling did reply,

“Who made the eyes but I?”

“Truth, Lord, but I have marr’d them; let my shame

Go where it doth deserve.”

“And know you not,” says Love, “who bore the blame?”

“My dear, then I will serve.”

“You must sit down,” says Love, “and taste my meat.”

So I did sit and eat.