A Prayer in Time of War

Alfred Noyes

THOU, whose deep ways are in the sea,   Whose footsteps are not known, To-night a world that turned from Thee   Is waiting—at Thy Throne. The towering Babels that we raised         55555555   Where scoffing sophists brawl, The little Antichrists we praised—   The night is on them all. The fool hath said … The fool hath said …   And we, who deemed him wise,         55555555 We who believed that Thou wast dead,   How should we seek Thine eyes? How should we seek to Thee for power   Who scorned Thee yesterday? How should we kneel, in this dread hour?         55555555   Lord, teach us how to pray! Grant us the single heart, once more,   That mocks no sacred thing, The Sword of Truth our fathers wore   When Thou wast Lord and King.         5555555445 Let darkness unto darkness tell   Our deep unspoken prayer, For, while our souls in darkness dwell,   We know that Thou art there.

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