 | Poems |  |
THE PRAYERS.
A DREAM.
A sound of supplication
Went trembling up the air;
Up to the giver of all good
Arose the sound of prayer;
“Grant me a sense for all delight,
No pleasure, Lord, can cloy;
Through youth—through age—from birth to death,
Oh, give me to enjoy.”
Went trembling up the air;
Up to the giver of all good
Arose the sound of prayer;
447
No pleasure, Lord, can cloy;
Through youth—through age—from birth to death,
Oh, give me to enjoy.”
Again I heard a murmur low
Of prayer ascend on high;
Again soft supplicating tones
Went trembling up the sky;
“Wisdom above all earthly good,
Oh, Lord, on me bestow;
Thou who art thought and fate and love,
Oh, give me, Lord, to know.”
Of prayer ascend on high;
Again soft supplicating tones
Went trembling up the sky;
“Wisdom above all earthly good,
Oh, Lord, on me bestow;
Thou who art thought and fate and love,
Oh, give me, Lord, to know.”
And yet again with humblest tones
The throbbing air was stirred;
Again the low deep voice of prayer,
Ascending heaven was heard;
“Grant me, O thou that grantest all,
All blessings else above,
A heart to feel with all that breathe;
Oh, give me, Lord, to love.”
The throbbing air was stirred;
Again the low deep voice of prayer,
Ascending heaven was heard;
“Grant me, O thou that grantest all,
All blessings else above,
A heart to feel with all that breathe;
Oh, give me, Lord, to love.”
Then silence was in earth and heaven,
And in the stillness, stole,
With awe and mighty dread, a voice
Upon my trembling soul;
“Which choosest thou?” then said I, “Lord,
If one thou giv'st to choose,
Bliss, wisdom, Lord, deny, but love
Oh, do not thou refuse.”
And in the stillness, stole,
With awe and mighty dread, a voice
Upon my trembling soul;
“Which choosest thou?” then said I, “Lord,
If one thou giv'st to choose,
Bliss, wisdom, Lord, deny, but love
Oh, do not thou refuse.”
“Well hast thou chosen.” Yet again
In fear upon me came;
“Oh, wisest they in all the earth,
Whose choice in time's the same;
Lo, choosing one, thou choosest all,
For, mortal, know thou, love
Is highest wisdom, and its joy
Is joy, all joy above.”
In fear upon me came;
“Oh, wisest they in all the earth,
Whose choice in time's the same;
Lo, choosing one, thou choosest all,
For, mortal, know thou, love
Is highest wisdom, and its joy
Is joy, all joy above.”
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