Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE PRAYER, by DORA SIGERSON SHORTER Poet's Biography First Line: Many worlds have I made,' said the good god Last Line: "to draw men's souls to me." Alternate Author Name(s): Sigerson, Dora; Shorter, Mrs. Clement Subject(s): Creation; Jesus Christ - Life And Ministry; Prayer | ||||||||
"MANY worlds have I made," said the Good God, "But this is best of all," He slipped the round earth from His lap, Space held the circling ball. "Six days have I laboured," said the Good God, "To make it very fair, And man and woman have I moulded fine, Set them together there. "Open ye night's windows," said the Good God, "For I would hear them pray," Up from the spinning globe there came Loud cries from far away. "Into my hands deliver," cried the man, "The chast'ning of my foe, His vineyards grant mehis slaves and oxen, So shall I lay him low." "Give to me strange beauty," said the young maid, "More fair than all to be, So I anoint my body and go forth To draw men's hearts to me." "Behold! this is not good," said the Lord God, "Nor made to My desire," Then cried His little Son, "I shall go forth, To save them from Thine ire." "Oh, reach ye down your arms," said the Good God Unto the seraphim, "Lift up the broken body of My child For they have tortured Him." "Open the windows of the night," said the Good God, 'For I would hear them weep," Up from the spinning world's tumultuous sound Man's prayers imperious leap. "Into my hands deliver," cried the man, "My foe to bend and break, Burst Thou his strongholds and his ships entomb, So I my vengeance take." "Give to me rare beauty," said the young maid, "More fair than all to be, So I in silken raiment shall go forth To draw men's souls to me." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...UNHOLY SONNET 11 by MARK JARMAN LISTEN, LORD: A PRAYER by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON A PRAYER FOR THE FUTURE by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) DIFFERENT WAYS TO PRAY by NAOMI SHIHAB NYE PRAYER DURING A TIME MY SON IS HAVING SEIZURES by SHARON OLDS WE WHO PRAYED AND WEPT by WENDELL BERRY PRAYERS AND SAYINGS OF THE MAD FARMER by WENDELL BERRY THE WIND ON THE HILLS by DORA SIGERSON SHORTER |
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