Classic and Contemporary Poetry
SELFISH PRAYER, by LOUISE CHANDLER MOULTON Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: How we, poor players on life's little stage Last Line: The sons of men, who calls them each his son? Alternate Author Name(s): Chandler, Ellen Louise Subject(s): Prayer | ||||||||
HOW we, poor players on Life's little stage, Thrust blindly at each other in our rage, Quarrel and fret, yet rashly dare to pray To God to help us on our selfish way. We think to move Him with our prayer and praise, To serve our needs; as in the old Greek days Their gods came down and mingled in the fight With mightier arms the flying foe to smite. The laughter of those gods pealed down to men, For Heaven was but earth's upper story then Where goddesses about an apple strove, And the high gods fell humanly in love. We own a God whose presence fills the sky, -- Whose sleepless eyes behold the worlds roll by; Shall not His memory number, one by one, The sons of men, who calls them each His son? | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...UNHOLY SONNET 11 by MARK JARMAN LISTEN, LORD: A PRAYER by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON A PRAYER FOR THE FUTURE by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) DIFFERENT WAYS TO PRAY by NAOMI SHIHAB NYE PRAYER DURING A TIME MY SON IS HAVING SEIZURES by SHARON OLDS WE WHO PRAYED AND WEPT by WENDELL BERRY PRAYERS AND SAYINGS OF THE MAD FARMER by WENDELL BERRY A PAINTED FAN by LOUISE CHANDLER MOULTON |
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