The Windows: A Poem by George Herbert

In my opinion, the strength of George Herbert’s poetry is its brevity. He makes his mark and gets out of dodge. In this poem, he reflects on the wonder of preaching, that men as frail as stained glass are able to transmit God’s light and glory through the spoken word. It is a wonder that God has chosen flawed, brittle vessels to preach his Word!

The Windows

Lord, how can man preach thy eternal word?

    He is a brittle crazy glass;

Yet in thy temple thou dost him afford

    This glorious and transcendent place,

    To be a window, through thy grace.

But when thou dost anneal in glass thy story,

    Making thy life to shine within

The holy preachers, then the light and glory

    More reverend grows, and more doth win;

    Which else shows waterish, bleak, and thin.

Doctrine and life, colors and light, in one

    When they combine and mingle, bring

A strong regard and awe; but speech alone

    Doth vanish like a flaring thing,

    And in the ear, not conscience, ring.