Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, GOD OF THE OPEN AIR: 7, by HENRY VAN DYKE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

GOD OF THE OPEN AIR: 7, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: These are the gifts I ask
Last Line: On all the brightness of the common day.
Alternate Author Name(s): Civis Americanus
Subject(s): Religion; Theology


These are the gifts I ask
Of Thee, Spirit serene:
Strength for the daily task,
Courage to face the road,
Good cheer to help me bear the traveler's load,
And, for the hours of rest that come between,
An inward joy of all things heard and seen.

These are the sins I fain
Would have Thee take away:
Malice and cold disdain,
Hot anger, sullen hate,
Scorn of the lowly, envy of the great,
And discontent that casts a shadow gray
On all the brightness of the common day.





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