Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, LABOR IS PRAYER, by DINAH MARIA MULOCK CRAIK



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

LABOR IS PRAYER, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Laborare est orare
Last Line: And the whole earth rings with prayers.
Alternate Author Name(s): Mulock, Dinah Maria
Subject(s): Labor & Laborers; Women; Work; Workers


LABORARE est orare:
We, black-visaged sons of toil,
From the coal-mine and the anvil
And the delving of the soil, --
From the loom, the wharf, the warehouse,
And the ever-whirling mill,
Out of grim and hungry silence
Raise a weak voice small and shrill; --
Laborare est orare:
Man, dost hear us? God, He will.

We, who just can keep from starving
Sickly wives, -- not always mild:
Trying not to curse Heaven's bounty
When it sends another child, --
We who, worn-out, doze on Sundays
O'er the Book we strive to read,
Cannot understand the parson
Or the catechism and creed.
Laborare est orare: --
Then, good sooth, we pray indeed.

We, poor women, feeble-natured,
Large of heart, in wisdom small,
Who the world's incessant battle
Cannot understand at all,
All the mysteries of the churches,
All the troubles of the state, --
Whom child-smiles teach "God is loving,"
And child-coffins, "God is great":
Laborare est orare: --
We too at His footstool wait.

Laborare est orare;
Hear it, ye of spirit poor,
Who sit crouching at the threshold
While your brethren force the door;
Ye whose ignorance stands wringing
Rough hands, scamed with toil, nor dares
Lift so much as eyes to Heaven, --
Lo! all life this truth declares,
Laborare est orare;
And the whole earth rings with prayers.





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