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
religion treasure heavenly
Religion! what treasure untold resides in that heavenly word!
religion doe pleasure
Religion does not censure or exclude Unnumbered pleasures, harmlessly pursued.
sky religion favors
Religion, richest favor of the skies.
spring flower religion
Pity! Religion has so seldom found A skilful guide into poetic ground! The flowers would spring where'er she deign'd to stray And every muse attend her in her way.
religion needs heavenly
Religion, if in heavenly truths attired, Needs only to be seen to be admired.
finds fools idle wisdom wishes
In idle wishes fools supinely stay;Be there a will, -- and wisdom finds a way.
art infinitely thou
I know that Thou art infinitely gracious, but what will become of me?
heaven noticed scorned though
Not scorned in Heaven, though little noticed here.
adopt smiles sparing style teacher
Once more I would adopt the graver style - a teacher should be sparing of his smile.
adopt sparing style teacher teaching
Once more I would adopt the graver style -- a teacher should be sparing of his smile.
pleasure received
I never received a little pleasure from anything in my life; if I am pleased, it is in the extreme.
heard language last life lips oh passed roughly since thee
Oh that those lips had language! Life has passed With me but roughly since I heard thee last
changes god knows length shadow slow
Oh! let me then at length be taughtWhat I am still so slow to learn;That God is love, and changes not,Nor knows the shadow of a turn.
affection black skins white
Skins may differ, but affectionDwells in white and black the same.