How shall I build my temple to the Lord, Unworthy I, who am thus foul of heart? How shall I worship who no traitor word Know but of love to play a suppliant's part? How shall I pray, whose soul is as a mart, For thoughts unclean, whose tongue is as a sword Even for those it loves to wound and smart? Behold how little I can help Thee, Lord. The Temple I would build should be all white, Each stone the record of a blameless day; The souls that entered there should walk in light, Clothed in high chastity and wisely gay. Lord, here is darkness. Yet this heart unwise, Bruised in Thy service, take in sacrifice. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...JUST & UNJUST by CHARLES SYNGE CHRISTOPHER BOWEN THE LOVER'S MESSAGE; SONG by JOHN DRYDEN THE BRITISH CHURCH by GEORGE HERBERT THE SOUND OF THE SEA; SONNET by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW INTO THE TWILIGHT by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS FOUR SONNETS: 4 by FRANK DAVIS ASHBURN SONGS OF NIGHT TO MORNING: 1. AT THE THEATRE by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) |