I WAS in Heaven one day when all the prayers Came in, and angels bore them up the stairs Unto a place where he Who was ordained such ministry Should sort them so that in that palace bright The presence-chamber might be duly dight; For they were like to flowers of various bloom; And a divinest fragrance filled the room. Then did I see how the great sorter chose One flower that seemed to me a hedgeling rose, And from the tangled press Of that irregular loveliness Set it apart -- and -- "This," I heard him say, "Is for the Master": so upon his way He would have passed; then I to him: -- "Whence is this rose? O thou of cherubim The chiefest?" -- "Know'st thou not?" he said and smiled, "This is the first prayer of a little child." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...EIGHTEEN-DOLLAR TAXI TRIP TO TIZAPAN AND BACK TO CHAPALA by CLARENCE MAJOR DOMESDAY BOOK: GREGORY WENNER by EDGAR LEE MASTERS SIMON SURNAMED PETER by EDGAR LEE MASTERS SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: THE VILLAGE ATHEIST by EDGAR LEE MASTERS THE AWAKENING by EDGAR LEE MASTERS A POEM FOR MAX NORDAU by EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON UNDER A TELEPHONE POLE by CARL SANDBURG TO A LADY WHO HAD OFFERED HIM A WREATH OF LAUREL by GEORGE SANTAYANA |