Friday, September 21, 2012

To Tirzah

John 2
3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.

Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come

(This little story in John's gospel led to a great little poem by Blake):

Wikimedia Commons
Songs of Innocence & of Experience
Plate 52 
Songs of Innocence & of Experience, Plate 52, (E 30) 
"To Tirzah                                                      

Whate'er is Born of Mortal Birth,
Must be consumed with the Earth
To rise from Generation free;
Then what have I to do with thee?

The Sexes sprung from Shame & Pride
Blow'd in the morn: in evening died
But Mercy changd Death into Sleep;
The Sexes rose to work & weep.

Thou Mother of my Mortal part.
With cruelty didst mould my Heart. 
And with false self-decieving tears,
Didst bind my Nostrils Eyes & Ears.

Didst close my Tongue in senseless clay
And me to Mortal Life betray:
The Death of Jesus set me free, 
Then what have I to do with thee?

[text on illustration]: It is Raised a Spiritual Body"

I Corinthians 15
[39] All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.
[40] There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
[41] There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
[42] So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
[43] It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
[44] It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.


II Corinthians 4
[16] "though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day."

1 comment:

Larry Clayton said...

The two women trying to help the helpless man (and maintain him in the mortal state) are said to be Mother Love and Sex Love.

The old (wise?) man offers the contents of a golden pitcher.

Both of these from 'Erdman's Illuminated Blake'