Classic Christian Poetry - John Greenleaf Whittier (1807-1892)

John Greenleaf Whittier   (1807-1892)

From "Andrew Rykman's Prayer"

Pardon, Lord, the lips that dare

Shape in words a mortal's prayer!

...

Not as one who seeks his home

With a steep assured I come;

Still behind the tread I hear

Of my life-companion, Fear;

Still a shadow deep and vast

From my westering feet is cast,

Wavering, doutful, undefined,

Never shapen nor outlined:

From myself the fear has grown,

And the shadow is my own.

Yet, O Lord, through all a sense

Of Thy tneder providence

Stays my falling heart on Thee,

And confirms the feeble knee;

And, at times, my worn feet press

Spaces of cool quietness,

Lilied whiteness shone upon;

Hours there be of inmost calm,

Broken but by grateful psalm,

When I love Thee more than fear Thee,

And Thy blessed Christ seems near me,

With forgiving look, as when

He beheld the Magdalen.

Well I know that all things move

To the spheral rythm of love,-

That to Thee, O Lord of all!