A WOMAN'S PRAYER

God of the heaven and earth,

Bring to the birth

Soul of the man that I love;

From the Above,

Send Him the light of Thy face;

Grant to him grace,

Brave in the battle, his shield

Never to yield!

God of the zephyr and gale,

That is a nail

Holding the hand of my dream

Hard to the beam!

God of the good Paraclete,

Both of his feet

Bleed while the sentinels toss

Dice near a cross!

God of the magic of morn,

Crimsoning thorn

Crowns him! Oh, hark to his cry:

“Sabachthani?”

God of the laughter and tear,

That is a spear

Stained with the red drops that start

Under his heart!

God of the glamour and gloom,

Into the tomb

Low is he laid; see, a stone

Leaves me alone!

God of the lily and vine,

Is he not mine?

Balms for his body I bear,

Myrrh for his hair.

Love! who rolled the stone away?

Bright as the day,

Shineth thy brow, and thy face

Gleams with a grace

Caught from the whispering wings

Of One who sings:

“There is no death!” Lo, the tomb

Breaks into bloom!

God of a woman's wide love,

Under, above,

Over the earth there is light

Sprung from the night;

Now is the heart of me filled,

Soul of me stilled;

Glad of Thy shepherding care,

Answering prayer!