Classic and Contemporary Poetry
A PRAYER, by PHOEBE CARY Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: I ask not wealth, but power to take Last Line: Fresh and unfailing to the last! Subject(s): Prayer; Conduct Of Life | ||||||||
I ASK not wealth, but power to take And use the things I have aright, Not years, but wisdom that shall make My life a profit and delight. I ask not, that for me, the plan Of good and ill be set aside; But that the common lot of man Be nobly borne, and glorified. I know I may not always keep My steps in places green and sweet, Nor find the pathway of the deep A path of safety for my feet; But pray, that when the tempest's breath Shall fiercely sweep my way about, I make not shipwreck of my faith In the unbottomed sea of doubt; And that, though it be mine to know How hard the stoniest pillow seems, Good angels still may come and go, About the places of my dreams. I do not ask for love below, That friends shall never be estranged; But for the power of loving, so My heart may keep its youth unchanged. Youth, joy, wealth -- Fate I give thee these; Leave faith and hope till life is past; And leave my heart's best impulses Fresh and unfailing to the last! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...INTRODUCTION TO THE WORLD by MATTHEA HARVEY SLOWLY: I FREQUENTLY SLOWLY WISH by LYN HEJINIAN MY LIFE: YET WE INSIST THAT LIFE IS FULL OF HAPPY CHANCE by LYN HEJINIAN CHAPTER HEADING by ERNEST HEMINGWAY PUNK HALF PANTHER by JUAN FELIPE HERRERA A CERTAIN MAN by JUAN FELIPE HERRERA GREEN-STRIPED MELONS by JANE HIRSHFIELD LIKE THE SMALL HOLE BY THE PATH-SIDE SOMETHING LIVES IN by JANE HIRSHFIELD A LEGEND OF THE NORTHLAND by PHOEBE CARY |
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