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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE VOICE IN THE GLOAMING, by WILLIAM ALLAN First Line: I heard a voice in the gloaming-time Last Line: "hast heard the orphan's prayer." Subject(s): Desire; Prayer | |||
I HEARD a voice in the gloaming-time Singing out in the lonely street; The notes rose up in a wailing chime, Then fell with a sadness sweet. I listen'd awhile and my heart was stirr'd, 'Twas a song of sorrow and pain, I gently stole out in the darkness and heard The last of the touching strain -- "Father above! Hear me to-night, My mother I would save, Cold is our home, no fire, no light, Give me of bread, I crave." I heard a voice in a dingy room, Crying out in a dying tone, "My child, my child, how deep is the gloom, Come back to your mother, lone." A footstep was heard on the creaking stair, And a shout -- "O mother! I come;" But a weeping child breath'd in silence a prayer, As a mother-soul went home -- "Father above! Hear me to-night, O with Thy child abide; I'm but a sinner in Thy sight, Be Thou my only guide." I saw a child by a grave-side stand, And the tears from her bright eyes fell, As the sexton old, with a kindly hand, Hid all that she loved so well; Then wandering away from a scene so dark, To a world all bright and fair, Like the weary dove coming back to the ark, God had a friend waiting there -- "I thank Thee, Father, God of Love, For all Thy tender care; I know that Thou in heaven above Hast heard the orphan's prayer." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...UNHOLY SONNET 11 by MARK JARMAN LISTEN, LORD: A PRAYER by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON A PRAYER FOR THE FUTURE by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) DIFFERENT WAYS TO PRAY by NAOMI SHIHAB NYE PRAYER DURING A TIME MY SON IS HAVING SEIZURES by SHARON OLDS WE WHO PRAYED AND WEPT by WENDELL BERRY PRAYERS AND SAYINGS OF THE MAD FARMER by WENDELL BERRY ON BEING ASKED TO WRITE A POEM AGAINST THE WAR IN VIETNAM by HAYDEN CARRUTH |
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