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by Ambrose Bierce (1842 - 1914?)

A Prayer for Today
 (Sung text for setting by G. Bachlund)
 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

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