Read as you taste fruit or savor wine, or enjoy friendship, love or life

Read as you taste fruit or savor wine, or enjoy friendship, love or life

George Herbert was a 17th-century poet and priest known for his profound religious poetry that often explored themes of faith, love, and the human experience. In his poem "The Elixir," Herbert writes, "A man that looks on glass, / On it may stay his eye; / Or if he pleaseth, through it pass, / And then the heaven espy." This idea of looking beyond the surface to find deeper meaning is a common theme in Herbert's work, and it can be applied to the act of reading as well.

When Herbert writes, "Read as you taste fruit or savor wine, or enjoy friendship, love or life," he is encouraging his readers to approach literature with the same level of attention and appreciation that they would give to other pleasurable experiences. Just as one might savor the taste of a ripe piece of fruit or a glass of fine wine, Herbert suggests that reading should be a sensory experience that engages both the mind and the heart.

For Herbert, reading is not simply a passive activity but an active engagement with the text that requires careful attention and reflection. Just as one might savor the complexities of a well-crafted wine or the nuances of a deep friendship, Herbert encourages his readers to savor the words on the page and allow them to resonate deeply within their souls.

In this way, Herbert's poetry becomes a kind of spiritual nourishment, offering his readers a taste of the divine through the beauty and wisdom of his words. By approaching literature with the same level of mindfulness and appreciation that one would give to other aspects of life, Herbert suggests that reading can be a transformative experience that enriches the soul and deepens our understanding of the world around us.