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THE ENGLISH REVIEW
Prayer
(From the French of Emile Verhaeren)
By Osman Edwards
TOWARDS the Future, its adventurous care,
My spirit springs,
And, suddenly, I feel once more,
Deep in my heart, the flutter of white wings
Asleep before,
A child's long-silent prayer.
Though other words in other phrases sigh,
Yet the old rhythm rings with the old cry,
After long years the same;
The rhythm Time hath taught, and men of old,
Since in sore need they pierced their skies of gold
With vows of boon or blame.
To-day it thrills my being's utmost span,
As swiftly I ascend towards nobler Man,
In whose slow making centuries unite;
I hope, I weep, I tremble, I desire !
My longings, wafted in sonorous flight,
Mount in a brazier of dancing fire.
Spark, that survivest yet from fervours past !
O brave, new Prayer ! O Prayer, arisen at last!
O future ! Thee, as once God's mysteries,
I worship now, lord of our time and race ;
But thou, at least, one day, wilt take man's place,
Thou wilt become his heart, his brain, his eyes.
What matter, wert thou less than dreams desire ?
If at each glimpse of thee
Mine ardour kindled be,
And my will lifted higher.
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