of such poems might see them as patronising, and their idealisation of women as self-servingly limited and stereotypical.The version below has modernised spelling and is taken from a 1975 edition of Palgrave, omitting several stanzas present in [Richard] Crashaw's original text. The shortened version was published during the poet's lifetime, so quite possibly had his approval, and I think the tactful editing allows the shape of the poem to emerge with greater effect. However, if you prefer, the full text is available online.
Wishes
To his (Supposed) Mistress
from Carol Rumens: The Guardian: Books blog: Poem of the week: Wishes to his (Suposed) Mistress
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The Church of England's website has a new section called Matter of Life and Debt, and has also just published a group of prayers for people afflicted by the current financial crisis.
While this "pastoral initiative" to comfort the credit-squeezed is well intentioned, the prayers, set out as flaccid scraps of free verse, actually create a sense of impoverishment--the impoverishment of the English language.
from Carol Rumens: The Guardian: Books blog: Redundant prayers
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