Jordan
by George Herbert

English metaphysical poet. The majority of his works were religious poems written in the last years of his life and were published in The Temple: Sacred poems and Private Ejaculations (1633). His notable poems include 'The Church Porch' a doctrinal poem, and 'The Altar' and 'Easter Wings', pattern poems where the lines form the shape of the subject. Other metaphysical poets include John Donne, Henry Vaughan and Andrew Marvell.

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Jordan
by George Herbert

Who says that fictions only and false hair
Become a verse? Is there in truth no beauty?
Is all good structure in a winding stair?
May no lines pass, except they do their duty
Not to a true, but painted chair?

Is it no verse, except enchanted groves
And sudden arbours shadow coarse-spun lines?
Must purling streams refresh a lover's loves?
Must all be veiled, while he that reads divines,
Catching the sense at two removes?

Shepherds are honest people: let them sing:
Riddle who list, for me, and pull for prime:
I envy no man's nightingale or spring;
Nor let them punish me with loss of rhyme,
Who plainly say, My God, My King.

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Jordan by George Herbert