Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, A BELGIAN CHRISTMAS EVE, by ALFRED NOYES


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A BELGIAN CHRISTMAS EVE, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Thou, whose deep ways are in the sea
Last Line: We know that thou art there.
Variant Title(s): A Prayer In Time Of War
Subject(s): Belgium; Christmas; World War I; Nativity, The; First World War


THOU, whose deep ways are in the sea,
Whose footsteps are not known,
To-night a world that turned from Thee
Is waiting—at Thy Throne.

The towering Babels that we raised
Where scoffing sophists brawl,
The little Antichrists we praised—
The night is on them all.

The fool hath said ... The fool hath said ...
And we, who deemed him wise,
We who believed that Thou wast dead,
How should we seek Thine eyes?

How should we seek to Thee for power
Who scorned Thee yesterday?
How should we kneel, in this dread hour?
Lord, teach us how to pray!

Grant us the single heart, once more,
That mocks no sacred thing,
The Sword of Truth our fathers wore
When Thou wast Lord and King.

Let darkness unto darkness tell
Our deep unspoken prayer,
For, while our souls in darkness dwell,
We know that Thou art there.





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