Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


PRAYER by JOHN COWPER POWYS

First Line: CHOKED WE LIVE, AND CHOKED WE DIE
Last Line: DEATH!
Subject(s): BREATH; DEATH; LIFE; PRAYER; DEAD, THE;

Choked we live, and choked we die.
Give us air and give us space,
You intolerable sky!
'Tis not much -- a little grace --
'Tis not long -- a little thing --
That before our burying
We may cry one natural cry.

O to put into one breath --
Only one, --
All the poison of our hate,
All -- all -- all -- that came too late;
Give us that; -- and when that's done,
Death!



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