Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


ON ATTENTION by JOHN BYROM

Poet Analysis

First Line: SACRED ATTENTION! TRUE EFFECTUAL PRAY'R!
Last Line: PURE, UNCONSUM'D, THE FAITHFUL VICTIM FLAMES.
Subject(s): MANKIND; PRAYER; HUMAN RACE;

SACRED attention! true effectual pray'r!
Thou dost the soul for love of truth prepare.
Blest is the man, who, from conjecture free,
To future knowledge shall aspire by thee;
Who in thy precepts seeks a sure repose,
Stays till he sees, nor judges till he knows;
Tho' firm, not rash; tho' eager, yet sedate;
Intent on truth, can its instruction wait;
Aw'd by thy powerful influence to appeal
To Heaven, which only can itself reveal;
The soul in humble silence to resign,
And human will unite to the divine;
Till fir'd at length by Heaven's enlivening beams,
Pure, unconsum'd, the faithful victim flames.



Home: PoetryExplorer.net