Classic and Contemporary Poetry
UNDER THE SURFACE: PRELUDE, by FRANCES RIDLEY HAVERGAL Poet's Biography First Line: Take it, o father! This new book be thine Last Line: Shall all be thine for evermore. Amen. Subject(s): Praise; Prayer; Teaching & Teachers; Educators; Professors | ||||||||
TAKE it, O Father! This new book be Thine, Filled only with Thy teachings, only filled For Thee, and for the pilgrims to Thy home. I know not what bright impulses of song May come upon my waiting soul, nor when; Or whether years of silence yet may fall In still parenthesis as once before; Or whether tighter tension must be laid By Thy unerring Hand, that so the tone May be more true to that immortal key Which reaches loneliest depths of human heart With echoes from Thine own. I would not shrink From suffering, if I may but sing for Thee. Father, Thou knowest how this gift hath seemed Thine own direct sweet answer to the prayer For peace and patience in the silent grief Thy Hand, Thine own, has portioned out for me. And I have felt Thy call, not loud, but clear, To praise Thee with my song, as, it may be, I had not done had all my heart's desire Been granted me. Thou knowest how (so often) I have laid An aching heart upon Thy heart of love, And wept out all my sorrow, till at last Thou gavest Thy belovèd sleep. And then Came singing in the morning some glad thought That, wafted over land and sea, has put New songs in silent mouths, and come again With harvest of rejoicing back to me. Let not Thy blessing fail! I long for this, I ask it for the sake of Him whose Name Is my sure plea. O send it, gracious Lord! As Thou hast spared me to begin to-day The seventh small volume of these leaves of life, So let a sevenfold blessing rest upon All that shall fill these pages. Give me thoughts, But quicken them with power; give me words, But wing them with Thy love; give music too, But let it ring all beautiful and sweet With holiness; yea, give to me, if such Thy holy will, far better and far more Than heretofore, but only add this gift, Without which all were worthless and in vain, Thy Blessing. So the glory and the praise Shall all be Thine for evermore. Amen. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE CORRESPONDENCE-SCHOOL INSTRUCTOR SAYS GOODBYE TO HIS POETRY STUDENTS by GALWAY KINNELL GRATITUDE TO OLD TEACHERS by ROBERT BLY TWO RAMAGES FOR OLD MASTERS by ROBERT BLY ON FLUNKING A NICE BOY OUT OF SCHOOL by JOHN CIARDI HER MONOLOGUE OF DARK CREPE WITH EDGES OF LIGHT by NORMAN DUBIE OF POLITICS, & ART by NORMAN DUBIE SEVERAL MEASURES FOR THE LITTLE LOST by NORMAN DUBIE CONSECRATION HYMN by FRANCES RIDLEY HAVERGAL I DID THIS FOR THEE! WHAT HAST THOU DONE FOR ME? by FRANCES RIDLEY HAVERGAL A BIRTHDAY GREETING TO MY FATHER, 1860 by FRANCES RIDLEY HAVERGAL |
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