SHINTO

Lowly temple and torii,

Shrine where the spirits of wind and wave

Find the worship and glory we

Give to the one God great and grave —

Lowly temple and torii,

Shrine of the dead, I hang my prayer

Here on your gates — the story see

And answer out of the earth and air.

For I am Nature's child, and you

Were by the children of Nature built.

Ages have on you smiled — and dew

On you for ages has been spilt —

Till you are beautiful as Time

Mossy and mellowing ever makes:

Wrapped as you are in lull — or rhyme

Of sounding drum that sudden breaks.

This is my prayer then, this: that I

Too may reverence all of life,

Lose no power and miss no high

Awe, of a world with wonder rife!

That I may build in spirit fair

Temples and torii on each place

That I have loved — Oh, hear it, Air,

Ocean and Earth, and grant your grace!