Adequacy

by Elizabeth Barrett Browning — a poem card from Justes Mots

A Petrarchan sonnet praising the natural world and expressing humble gratitude to God, arguing that creation is sufficient and beautiful without requiring augmentation. Rather than asking God for increased joy, Browning requests only the grace to be worthy of even the smallest blessings. The poem exemplifies spiritual humility and contemplative acceptance.

Now, by the verdure on thy thousand hills,
Beloved England, doth the earth appear
Quite good enough for men to overbear
The will of God in, with rebellious wills!
We cannot say the morning-sun fulfils
Ingloriously its course, nor that the clear
Strong stars without significance insphere
Our habitation: we, meantime, our ills…

Themes: gratitude · friendship · admiration · reflection