George Herbert's poem The Thanksgiving is a work of deceptively simple construction. With its repetitive rhyme scheme, its verses flow easily and sound almost musical when read aloud. It is concisely written, and despite some outdated Old English phrases, its content is not difficult to understand. A cursory reading of the poem would suggest that it is a dedication to the Christian faith through what appears to be the author's attempt to follow the ways of Jesus Christ. However, through a careful reading of certain elements of the piece's composition, it emerges as an almost fatalistic account of being a good Christian. Thanksgiving is a poem that tries to show the utter frustration and potential futility of being a follower of Christianity. Throughout the piece, Herbert possesses an unwavering and seemingly imprisoned dedication to the Christian faith, but is not equipped with the tools to adequately reciprocate the sacrifice Jesus made for him and all other people. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay With the title Thanksgiving, the reader probably begins with the expectation that this will be written in a frank and respectful tone. From the beginning of the poem it is evident that this desire to thank is the subject of a strong and paralyzing personal conflict. The first stanza of the poem exclaims the object of his attention: "Oh king of sorrow!" As mentioned in parentheses, this is a title that, of all people, this figure deserves. Besides the fact that the word "King" is capitalized in a biblical manner, the image of a grieving monarch appears to be a contradiction of terms, especially in recognition of the poem's publication in 1633. In an age of powerful autocratic figures who probably suffered least among men, this reference seems to be in deference to the King of the Jews: Jesus Christ. Herbert's personal struggle here seems to imply the inadequacy of the author's dedication to his God. By labeling him the “King of Wounds,” Herbert recognizes the pain that Jesus Christ endured as a martyr for the sake of humanity and, conversely, he sees the failure of his attempts to match him. As he exclaims, how can one cry over one's situation and suffering: "Who hinders me in all the pain?" Someone who has made the ultimate sacrifice is not given the resources to show sorrow and appreciation for what Jesus Christ has done for them. Thanksgiving may initially conflict with our traditional connotation of the phrase as an instance of collective respect (similar to feasting), but only in the sense that this attempt to give thanks has a deeper, more individual intention. The poem's end is marked both by a sudden change in the author's perspective and by a small break in the rhyme scheme of the previous body of the poem. From the first line of the poem to line 48, there is a simple rhyme scheme. In each pair of lines the last word rhymes. In the final two lines, however, the words are reminiscent of each other, but do not rhyme as clearly as the preceding lines: “Then for my passion – I will for that -- / Alas, my God, I don't know What." Although "that" and "what" bear a visual resemblance to each other, their pronunciation is close, but obviously different. In what began as a tidy, pleasant-sounding poem, Thanksgiving ends with disharmony. Comparing the rhyme with the content of these stanzas, the stylistic choice made by Herbert is understandable. The beginning of the poem begins with a cry, wondering how to best show his commitment to Jesus and his.