Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

A LAST PRAYER by HELEN MARIA HUNT FISKE JACKSON

First Line: FATHER, I SCARCELY DARE TO PRAY
Last Line: LET ME REPENTANT WORK FOR THEE!
Subject(s): PRAYER; RELIGION; THEOLOGY;
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!



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