William Cowper

William Cowper
William Cowper was an English poet and hymnodist. One of the most popular poets of his time, Cowper changed the direction of 18th century nature poetry by writing of everyday life and scenes of the English countryside. In many ways, he was one of the forerunners of Romantic poetry. Samuel Taylor Coleridge called him "the best modern poet", whilst William Wordsworth particularly admired his poem Yardley-Oak. He was a nephew of the poet Judith Madan...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionPoet
Date of Birth26 November 1731
alone breath distant heaven reach toil
But oars alone can ne'er prevailTo reach the distant coast;The breath of heaven must swell the sail,Or all the toil is lost.
heaven noticed scorned though
Not scorned in Heaven, though little noticed here.
calm closer heavenly leads light oh road shine walk
Oh for a closer walk with God, / A calm and heavenly frame; / A light to shine upon the road / That leads me to the Lamb!
heaven held likeness
Heaven held his hand, the likeness must be true.
religion treasure heavenly
Religion! what treasure untold resides in that heavenly word!
fire joy heaven
Then liberty, like day, Breaks on the soul, and by a flash from Heaven Fires all the faculties with glorious joy.
religious heaven universal-love
Heaven's harmony is universal love.
heaven doubt earth
But many a crime deemed innocent on earth Is registered in Heaven; and these no doubt Have each their record, with a curse annex'd.
giving heaven world
Heaven speed the canvas, gallantly unfurl'd, To furnish and accommodate a world, To give the Pole the produce of the sun, And knit the unsocial climates into one.
religion needs heavenly
Religion, if in heavenly truths attired, Needs only to be seen to be admired.
heaven toil lost
But oars alone can ne'er prevail To reach the distant coast; The breath of Heaven must swell the sail, Or all the toil is lost.
ask birds jacques jean shall
I shall not ask Jean Jacques Rousseau - If birds confabulate or no
came haste soon
And up he got, in haste to ride, / But soon came down again.
breed errors faults life
Faults in the life breed errors in the brain,And these, reciprocally, those again.