Naaman

John Newton 1725 (Wapping, London) – 1807 (London)



Before Elisha's gate
The Syrian leper stood;
But could not brook to wait,
He deemed himself too good:
He thought the prophet would attend,
And not to him a message send.

Have I this journey come,
And will he not be seen?
I were as well at home,
Would washing make me clean:
Why must I wash in Jordan's flood?
Damascus' rivers are as good.

Thus by his foolish pride
He almost missed a cure;
Howe'er at length he tried,
And found the method sure:
Soon as his pride was brought to yield,
The leprosy was quickly healed.

Leprous and proud as he,
To Jesus thus I came,
From sin to set me free,
When first I heard his fame:
Surely, thought I, my pompous train
Of vows and tears will notice gain.

My heart devised the way
Which I supposed he'd take;
And when I found delay,
Was ready to go back:
Had he some painful task enjoined,
I to performance seemed inclined.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 30, 2023

51 sec read
184

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABABCC XDXDXB EFEFGG HIHIJJ KXKXXX
Closest metre Iambic trimeter
Characters 840
Words 166
Stanzas 5
Stanza Lengths 6, 6, 6, 6, 6

John Newton

Rev Dr John A Newton CBE is a prominent Methodist minister, author, historian and former President of the Methodist Conference. more…

All John Newton poems | John Newton Books

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1 Comment
  • vandhana_k
    so a made the role to seek the inside of grass.
    LikeReply1 year ago

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"Naaman" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 29 Mar. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/23964/naaman>.

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