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Flesh and the Spirit, The Lyrics by Anne Bradstreet

Poems of Anne Bradstreet

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In secret place where once I stood
Close by the Banks of Lacrim flood,
I heard two sisters reason on
Things that are past and things to come.
One Flesh was call'd, who had her eye
On worldly wealth and vanity;
The other Spirit, who did rear
Her thoughts unto a higher sphere.
"Sister," quoth Flesh, "what liv'st thou on
Nothing but Meditation?
Doth Contemplation feed thee so
Regardlessly to let earth go?
Can Speculation satisfy
Notion without Reality?
Dost dream of things beyond the Moon
And dost thou hope to dwell there soon?
Hast treasures there laid up in store
That all in th' world thou count'st but poor?
Art fancy-sick or turn'd a Sot
To catch at shadows which are not?
Come, come. I'll show unto thy sense,
Industry hath its recompence.
What canst desire, but thou maist see
True substance in variety?
Dost honour like? Acquire the same,
As some to their immortal fame;
And trophies to thy name erect
Which wearing time shall ne'er deject.
For riches dost thou long full sore?
Behold enough of precious store.
Earth hath more silver, pearls, and gold
Than eyes can see or hands can hold.
Affects thou pleasure? Take thy fill.
Earth hath enough of what you will.
Then let not go what thou maist find
For things unknown only in mind."
Credits
Anne Bradstreet

Anne Bradstreet

About “Flesh and the Spirit, The” by Anne Bradstreet

Read the complete lyrics to "Flesh and the Spirit, The" by Anne Bradstreet from the album "Poems of Anne Bradstreet". On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Non-Music, Literature.

"Flesh and the Spirit, The" is performed by Anne Bradstreet. from the album "Poems of Anne Bradstreet" This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "Flesh and the Spirit, The", explore more songs by Anne Bradstreet using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"Flesh and the Spirit, The" is credited to Anne Bradstreet. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"Flesh and the Spirit, The" appears on "Poems of Anne Bradstreet".

Visit the Anne Bradstreet artist page at /artist/anne-bradstreet for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.