by Ambrose Bierce (1842 - 1914?)
A Prayer for Today See original
Language: English
I saw a man who knelt in prayer, And heard him say: "I'll lay my inmost spirit bare To-day. "Lord, for tomorrow and its need I do not pray; Let me upon my neighbor feed To-day. "Let me my duty duly shirk And run away From any form of phase of work To-day. "From Thy commandments exempt still Let me obey The promptings of my private will To-day. "Let me no word profane, no lie Unthinking say If any one is standing by To-day. "My secret sins and vices grave Let none betray; The scoffer's jeers I do not crave To-day. "And if to-day my fortune all Should ebb away, Help me on other men's to fall To-day. "So, for tomorrow and its mite I do not pray; Just give me everything in sight To-day." I cried: "Amen!" He rose and ran Like oil away. I said: "I've seen an honest man To-day."
Composition:
- Set to music by Gary Bachlund (b. 1947), "A Prayer for Today", 1991 [ medium voice and piano ]
Text Authorship:
- by Ambrose Bierce (1842 - 1914?), "To-Day", appears in Shapes of Clay, first published 1903
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2007-05-08
Line count: 36
Word count: 153