Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume IV. The Higher Life. 1904. | | | | II. Prayer and Aspiration | | “From the recesses of a lowly spirit” | | Sir John Bowring (1792–1872) |
| | | FROM the recesses of a lowly spirit, | |
| Our humble prayer ascends; O Father! hear it. | |
| Upsoaring on the wings of awe and meekness, | |
| Forgive its weakness! | |
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| We see thy hand,—it leads us, it supports us; | 5 |
| We hear thy voice,—it counsels and it courts us; | |
| And then we turn away; and still thy kindness | |
| Forgives our blindness. | |
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| O, how long-suffering, Lord! but thou delightest | |
| To win with love the wandering: thou invitest, | 10 |
| By smiles of mercy, not by frowns or terrors, | |
| Man from his errors. | |
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| Father and Saviour! plant within each bosom | |
| The seeds of holiness, and bid them blossom | |
| In fragrance and in beauty bright and vernal, | 15 |
| And spring eternal. | | | | |
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