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by Arthur Guiterman (1871 - 1943)

The Idol‑Maker Prays
Language: English 
Great god whom I shall carve from this gray stone
    Wherein thou liest, hid to all but me,
Grant thou that when my art hath made thee known
    And others bow, I shall not worship thee.
But, as I pray thee now, then let me pray
    Some greater god, -- like thee to be conceived
Within my soul, -- for strength to turn away
    From his new altar, when, that task achieved,
He, too, stands manifest. Yea, let me yearn
    From dream to grander dream! Let me not rest
Content at any goal! Still bid me spurn
    Each transient triumph on the Eternal Quest,
Abjuring godlings whom my hand hath made
    For Deity, revealed, but unportrayed!

Text Authorship:

  • by Arthur Guiterman (1871 - 1943), "The Idol-Maker Prays", appears in The Mirthful Lyre [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

  • by Gary Bachlund (b. 1947), "The Idol-Maker Prays", 2008 [high voice and piano] [ sung text checked 1 time]

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2009-03-07
Line count: 14
Word count: 114

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