I said, "Sweet Master, hear me pray; For love of Thee the boon I ask; Give me to do for Thee each day Some simple, lowly, blessed task." And listening long, with hope elate, I only heard Him whisper, "Wait." The days went by, but nothing brought Beyond the wonted round of care, And I was vexed with anxious thought, And found the waiting hard to bear; But when I said, "In vain I pray!" I heard Him answer gently, "Nay." So praying still and waiting on, And pondering what the waiting meant, This knowledge sweet at last I won-- And oh, the depth of my content! My blessed task for every day Is humbly, gladly to obey. And though I daily, hourly fail To bring my task to Him complete, And must with constant tears bewail My failures at my Master's feet, No other service would I ask Than this my blessed, blessed task. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...AN EXPLANATION by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: JOHN WASSON by EDGAR LEE MASTERS IN 'DESIGNING A CLOAK TO CLOAK HIS DESIGNS' YOU WRESTED FROM OBLIVION by MARIANNE MOORE WITH BEST WISHES by DOROTHY PARKER HOMAGE TO SEXTUS PROPERTIUS: 5 by EZRA POUND NEIGHBORS by EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON |