Robert Burns (1759–1796). Poems and Songs.
The Harvard Classics. 1909–14. |
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| 136. Prayer—O Thou Dread Power |
| | | | | Lying at a reverend friend’s house one night, the author left the following verses in the room where he slept:— |
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| O THOU dread Power, who reign’st above, | |
| I know thou wilt me hear, | |
| When for this scene of peace and love, | |
| I make this prayer sincere. | |
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| The hoary Sire—the mortal stroke, | 5 |
| Long, long be pleas’d to spare; | |
| To bless this little filial flock, | |
| And show what good men are. | |
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| She, who her lovely offspring eyes | |
| With tender hopes and fears, | 10 |
| O bless her with a mother’s joys, | |
| But spare a mother’s tears! | |
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| Their hope, their stay, their darling youth. | |
| In manhood’s dawning blush, | |
| Bless him, Thou God of love and truth, | 15 |
| Up to a parent’s wish. | |
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| The beauteous, seraph sister-band— | |
| With earnest tears I pray— | |
| Thou know’st the snares on ev’ry hand, | |
| Guide Thou their steps alway. | 20 |
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| When, soon or late, they reach that coast, | |
| O’er Life’s rough ocean driven, | |
| May they rejoice, no wand’rer lost, | |
| A family in Heaven! | |
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