THE LORD’ S PRAYER

There is a bolder way,

There is a wilder enterprise than this

All-human iteration day by day.

Courage, mankind! Restore Him what is His.

Out of His mouth were given

These phrases. O replace them whence they came.

He, only, knows our inconceivable “Heaven,”

Our hidden “Father,” and the unspoken “Name”;

Our “trespasses,” our “bread,”

The “will” inexorable yet implored;

The miracle-words that are and are not said,

Charged with the unknown purpose of their Lord.

“Forgive,” “give,” “lead us not”—

Speak them by Him, O man the unaware,

Speak by that dear tongue, though thou know not what,

Shuddering through the paradox of prayer.