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by Arthur Guiterman (1871 - 1943)

The irreverent Brahmin
Language: English 
A Brahmin, fat and debonair,
Denied the Potency of Prayer!

"Absurd!" he scoffed, "to say that Gods
At ease on high would stoop to Clods

"And heed our million warring Prayers
To regulate our small Affairs!"

This Dogmatist of early days
Was lost within a jungle's maze.

Where, wildly ranging wide about
To find a pathway leading out.

Upon a Forest Codling's Shrine
He chanced, o'erhung with leaf and vine,

And -- wonder! horror! -- crouching there
A mighty Tiger, bowed in prayer!

(Tail curled, as may be well supposed,
Paws folded, eyes devoutly closed).

"Strong God," he heard the Tiger say,
"I pray thee, send to me a Prey!"

The trustful Tiger closed his Prayer. --
Behold! a Brahmin trembling there!

The Brahmin never scoffed a whit.
The Prayer had Answer -- He was It.

Text Authorship:

  • by Arthur Guiterman (1871 - 1943), "The irreverent Brahmin", subtitle: "A Hindu Tract", appears in The Laughing Muse, first published 1915 [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 irreverent Brahmin", 2010 [medium voice and piano] [ sung text checked 1 time]

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2011-12-27
Line count: 22
Word count: 132

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