'TO HIS SAVIOUR, A CHILD;A PRESENT, BY A CHILD' by Robert Herrick


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Go, pretty child, and bear this flower
Unto thy little Saviour;
And tell him, by that bud now blown,
He is the Rose of Sharon known.
When thou hast said so, stick it there
Upon his bib or stomacher;
And tell him, for good handsel too,
That thou hast brought a whistle new,
Made of a clean straight oaten reed,
To charm his cries at time of need;
Tell him, for coral, thou hast none,
But if thou hadst, he should have one;
But poor thou art, and known to be
Even as moneyless as he.
Lastly, if thou canst win a kiss
From those melifluous lips of his;--
Then never take a second on,
To spoil the first impression.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Robert Herrick's TO HIS SAVIOUR, A CHILD; A PRESENT, BY A CHILD: A Masterpiece of Devotional Poetry

Are you looking for a poem that will uplift your spirits and fill your heart with joy and gratitude? Look no further than TO HIS SAVIOUR, A CHILD; A PRESENT, BY A CHILD, a wonderful devotional poem by the seventeenth-century poet Robert Herrick. This poem, written by a child and addressed to the Savior, is a masterpiece of simplicity, innocence, and piety that will resonate with readers of all ages and backgrounds.

The Poem

TO HIS SAVIOUR, A CHILD; A PRESENT, BY A CHILD is a short but powerful poem that consists of only six lines. Here is the text of the poem:

Go, pretty child, and bear this flower
Unto thy little Saviour;
And tell him, by that bud now blown,
He is the Rose of Sharon known.
When thou hast said so, stick it there
Upon his bib or stomacher.

At first glance, the poem may seem like a simple and childlike expression of faith and devotion. However, upon closer examination, the poem reveals itself to be a work of great depth and beauty, full of rich symbolism and theological insights.

The Flower

The poem begins with the command to a "pretty child" to take a flower and offer it to the Savior. The flower, which is not specified in the poem, is likely a symbol of the child's innocence, purity, and beauty. Like a flower that blooms in the springtime, the child's soul is also in bloom, full of potential and promise. By offering this flower to the Savior, the child is expressing her love and devotion to him, and acknowledging him as the source of all beauty and goodness in the world.

The Savior

The poem's central figure is, of course, the Savior, who is addressed directly in the second line of the poem. The Savior is described as a "little" one, which may seem surprising given his status as the Son of God. However, this description highlights the humility and meekness of the Savior, who, according to Christian theology, came to earth as a helpless infant, born in a manger. The Savior is also called the "Rose of Sharon," which is a reference to a biblical passage in the Song of Solomon that describes the beauty of a beloved woman:

I am the rose of Sharon,
And the lily of the valleys.

By calling the Savior the "Rose of Sharon," the child is affirming his divine beauty and loveliness, and identifying him as the object of her deepest affections.

The Child

The child who offers the flower to the Savior is, of course, the author of the poem. The fact that the poem is written by a child is significant, as it adds an element of innocence and simplicity to the poem's tone and imagery. The child's voice is one of pure and unadulterated faith, unencumbered by the doubts and complexities of adult life. By offering the flower to the Savior, the child is expressing her own faith and devotion, and reminding readers of the importance of childlike trust and humility in the Christian life.

The Act of Giving

The act of giving is central to the poem's message. The child is not only offering a flower to the Savior, but also offering her own heart and soul. By giving this gift to the Savior, the child is acknowledging him as the source of all goodness and beauty in her life, and expressing her gratitude for his love and grace. The act of giving is also an act of worship, as it involves the child offering her most precious possession to the Savior in a spirit of reverence and adoration.

The Significance of the Bib or Stomacher

The final line of the poem is perhaps the most intriguing. The child is instructed to "stick it there/ Upon his bib or stomacher." The bib or stomacher referred to here is likely a reference to the clothing of the infant Jesus. In the seventeenth century, it was common for infants to wear a bib or stomacher as a symbol of their innocence and purity. By placing the flower on the Savior's bib or stomacher, the child is reminding readers of the Savior's own innocence and purity, and of the importance of preserving that innocence and purity in our own lives.

Conclusion

TO HIS SAVIOUR, A CHILD; A PRESENT, BY A CHILD is a beautiful and deeply moving devotional poem that speaks to the hearts of readers of all ages and backgrounds. Through its rich symbolism and simple language, the poem reminds us of the importance of childlike faith, humility, and devotion in the Christian life, and of the power of giving to express our gratitude and worship. Robert Herrick has given us a true masterpiece of devotional poetry, and one that will continue to inspire and uplift readers for generations to come.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

To His Saviour, A Child; A Present, By A Child is a classic poem written by Robert Herrick, a 17th-century English poet. This poem is a beautiful expression of the innocence and purity of a child's faith in God. It is a simple yet profound poem that captures the essence of the Christian faith.

The poem is written in the form of a gift from a child to his Savior. The child presents his Savior with a gift of his own, a simple and humble gift, but one that is filled with love and devotion. The child's gift is his heart, his soul, and his faith. He offers himself to his Savior, knowing that he is nothing without him.

The poem begins with the child addressing his Savior, "O Savior of the world, who by thy cross and precious blood hast redeemed us." This opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem. It is a reminder of the sacrifice that Jesus made for us on the cross, and the love that he has for us.

The child then goes on to offer his gift to his Savior, "Behold, I here present thee with a gift that I myself have brought." The gift that the child presents is not a material one, but rather a spiritual one. It is his heart, his soul, and his faith. The child recognizes that these are the most valuable things that he has to offer, and he offers them willingly and with love.

The child then goes on to describe his gift in more detail. He says, "Here see my heart, it hath been washed as clean as snow, and pure as is the gold." The child is saying that his heart is pure and free from sin, just like the snow and gold. He has been cleansed by his Savior's blood, and he is now pure and holy.

The child then goes on to describe his faith, "Here see my faith, which like a grain of mustard seed, with reverence I do present." The child's faith is small, like a mustard seed, but it is strong and unwavering. He presents it to his Savior with reverence and humility, knowing that it is only through his Savior's grace that he has faith at all.

The child then concludes his gift by saying, "And here I beg of thee, O Savior, see thou take them graciously." The child is asking his Savior to accept his gift with grace and love. He knows that he is nothing without his Savior, and he is offering himself to him completely.

The poem is a beautiful expression of the Christian faith. It reminds us of the sacrifice that Jesus made for us on the cross, and the love that he has for us. It also reminds us of the importance of faith, and the value of offering ourselves to our Savior.

The poem is also a reminder of the innocence and purity of a child's faith. Children have a simple and pure faith that is often lost as we grow older. The child in the poem reminds us of the importance of holding onto that faith, and offering it to our Savior with love and humility.

In conclusion, To His Saviour, A Child; A Present, By A Child is a beautiful and profound poem that captures the essence of the Christian faith. It is a reminder of the sacrifice that Jesus made for us on the cross, and the love that he has for us. It is also a reminder of the importance of faith, and the value of offering ourselves to our Savior. The poem is a timeless classic that will continue to inspire and touch the hearts of readers for generations to come.

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