Religion

Prayers

by Henry Charles Beeching 1859–1919

From The Oxford Book of Victorian Verse (1912)

Religion

God who created me
Nimble and light of limb,
In three elements free,
To run, to ride, to swim:
Not when the sense is dim,
But now from the heart of joy,
I would remember Him:
Take the thanks of a boy.

Jesu, King and Lord,
Whose are my foes to fight,
Gird me- with thy sword
Swift and sharp and bright.
Thee would I serve if I might;
And conquer if I can,
From day-dawn till night,
Take the strength of a man.

Spirit of Love and Truth,
Breathing in grosser clay,
The light and flame of youth,
Delight of men in the fray,
Wisdom in strength's decay;
From pain, strife, wrong to be free,
This best gift I pray,
Take my spirit to Thee.

MLA

Beeching, Henry Charles. “Prayers.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/beeching/0/.

Chicago

Beeching, Henry Charles. “Prayers.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/beeching/0/.

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