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Today’s poem gives us a poet making sense of his restlessness and finding in it the mechanism that draws him upward to God. Happy reading. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dailypoempod.substack.com/subscribe
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Contract into a span. So strength first made away,
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Perceiving that alone of all his treasure, Rest in the bottom lay.
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Is this episode right for you?
B2 · Upper-intermediate
Comfortable if you already follow TV news
- 73% of the words are B1 or easier.
- 141 words a minute: a natural pace.
- 23 harder words (B2 and up) in the whole episode.
Transcript
The opening of the episode. The whole transcript is in the player.
harder words (B2+)
Welcome back to The Daily Poem, a podcast from Goldberry Studios. I'm Sean Johnson, and today is Monday, September 21st, 2026. Today's poem is by George Herbert, and it's called The Pulley. I'll read it once, offer a few comments, and read it one more time. The Pulley. When God At first made man, having a glass of blessing standing by,
Let us, said he, pour on him all we can, Let the world's riches, which dispersed lie, Contract into a span. So strength first made away, Then beauty flowed, then wisdom, honor, pleasure, When almost all was out, God made a stay, Perceiving that alone of all his treasure, Rest in the bottom lay.
For if I should, said he, bestow this jewel also on my creature, he would adore my gifts instead of me, and rest in nature, not the God of nature, so both should losers be. Yet let him keep the rest, and keep them with repining restlessness. Let him be rich and weary, that at least, if goodness lead him not, yet weariness may
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