My Prayer
Great God, I ask thee for no meaner pelf
Than that I may not disappoint myself;
That in my action I may soar as high
As I can now discern with this clear eye.
And next in value, which thy kindness lends,
That I may greatly disappoint my friends,
Howe'er they think or hope that it may be,
They may not dream how thou 'st distinguished me.
That my weak hand may equal my firm faith,
And my life practise more than my tongue saith;
That my low conduct may not show,
Nor my relenting lines,
That I thy purpose did not know,
Or overrated thy designs.
-Henry David Thoreau
More opposites of Truth. Thinking versus acting; human nature's disproportionate flaw. This prayer feels like such common ground upon which to relate.
ReplyDeleteNot disappoint himself, but greatly disappoint his friends? Sounds like someone needs new friends!
ReplyDeleteThe ultimate non conformist. I can respect that.
The rhyme sounds forced. That hurts thr poem today in a time of free verse and many different acceptable styles/philosophies of writing