Religion

A Last Prayer

by Helen Hunt Jackson 1830–1885

From An American Anthology, 1787-1900 (1900)

Religion

Father, I scarcely dare to pray,
So clear I see, now it is done,
That I have wasted half my day,
And left my work but just begun;

So clear I see that things I thought
Were right or harmless were a sin;
So clear I see that I have sought,
Unconscious, selfish aims to win;

So clear I see that I have hurt
The souls I might have helped to save;
That I have slothful been, inert,
Deaf to the calls thy leaders gave.

In outskirts of thy kingdoms vast,
Father, the humblest spot give me;
Set me the lowliest task thou hast;
Let me repentant work for thee!

MLA

Jackson, Helen Hunt. “A Last Prayer.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/jackson_hh/7/.

Chicago

Jackson, Helen Hunt. “A Last Prayer.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/jackson_hh/7/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

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