Fr Bob Writes – March 30, 2014

 To Keep a True Lent

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 down-cast 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

And 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.

(Robert Herrick)