Henry Charles Beeching, ed. (1859–1919). Lyra Sacra: A Book of Religious Verse. 1903.
By Thomas Toke Lynch (1818–1871)Prayer
| I GIVE myself to prayer; | |
| Lord, give Thyself to me, | |
| And let the time of my request | |
| Thy time of answer be. | |
| My thoughts are like the reeds, | 5 |
| And tremble as they grow, | |
| In the sad current of a life | |
| That darkly runs and slow. | |
| No song is in the air, | |
| But one pervading fear; | 10 |
| Death’s shadow dims my light, and Death | |
| Himself is lurking near. | |
| I am as if asleep, | |
| Yet conscious that I dream; | |
| Like one who vainly strives to wake | 15 |
| And free himself, I seem. | |
| The loud distressful cry | |
| With which I call on Thee, | |
| Shall wake me, Lord, to find that Thou | |
| Canst give me liberty. | 20 |
| Oh, break this darksome spell, | |
| This murky sadness strange, | |
| Let me the terrors of the night | |
| For cheerful day exchange. | |
| Freshen the air with wind, | 25 |
| Comfort my heart with song; | |
| Let thoughts be lilies pure, and life | |
| A river bright and strong. | |
| Save me from subtle Death, | |
| Who, serpent-like, by fear | 30 |
| Palsies me for escape, yet draws | |
| His trembling victim near. | |
| I give myself to prayer; | |
| Lord, give Thyself to me; | |
| And in the time of my distress, | 35 |
| Oh, haste and succour me. | |