Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE PRAYER, by JOHN GOULD FLETCHER Poet's Biography First Line: The sky to-day's an infinite temple-dome Last Line: Before thy great winds and grey seas of death. | ||||||||
THE sky to-day's an infinite temple-dome With clouds like wisps of incense here and there: Before that chasm of light, light's terrible home, I stand and cry aloud my savage prayer. Give me joy, O God, joy burning, destroying, bright; But give me sorrow's yet more withering fire: Let hard joy crush me beneath its massive weight, But sorrow release me for despair and desire. Give me knowledge, O God, a blood-stained, broken sword: Let Thy curse be the badge and banner I must win. And let me gain it not untried, ungored, But sooty with despair and red with sin. Give me life, O God, give me toil for toil fresh done, Give me clamour of cities thundering through my brain: Let me feel vast multitudes dragging me ever on, Till they overwhelm me, spent with struggle and pain. Give me song, O God, song that no gold can buy, Or no fame can debase, mad song of strife: And be my proud voice lost like a vain sigh Amid the surging ritual of life. Give me courage, O God, courage alone above all. Courage in every heart-beat, every breath: Courage to battle desperately till I fall Before Thy great winds and grey seas of death. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ARIZONA POEMS: 4. THE WINDMILLS by JOHN GOULD FLETCHER ARIZONA POEMS: 6. RAIN IN THE DESERT by JOHN GOULD FLETCHER DOWN THE MISSISSIPPI: 1. EMBARKATION by JOHN GOULD FLETCHER DOWN THE MISSISSIPPI: 2. HEAT by JOHN GOULD FLETCHER DOWN THE MISSISSIPPI: 3. FULL MOON by JOHN GOULD FLETCHER DOWN THE MISSISSIPPI: 4. THE MOON'S ORCHESTRA by JOHN GOULD FLETCHER DOWN THE MISSISSIPPI: 5. THE STEVEDORES by JOHN GOULD FLETCHER DOWN THE MISSISSIPPI: 6. NIGHT LANDING by JOHN GOULD FLETCHER DOWN THE MISSISSIPPI: 7. THE SILENCE by JOHN GOULD FLETCHER GREEN SYMPHONY by JOHN GOULD FLETCHER |
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