Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936). Verse: 1885–1918. 1922.

The Prayer of Miriam Cohen

FROM the wheel and the drift of Things

Deliver us, Good Lord,

And we will face the wrath of Kings

The faggot and the sword!

Lay not Thy Works before our eyes

Nor vex us with Thy Wars

Lest we should feel the straining skies

O’ertrod by trampling stars.

Hold us secure behind the gates

Of saving flesh and bone,

Lest we should dream what Dream awaits

The soul escaped alone.

Thy Path, Thy Purposes conceal

From our beleaguered realm,

Lest any shattering whisper steal

Upon us and o’erwhelm.

A veil ’twixt us and Thee, Good Lord,

A veil ’twixt us and Thee,

Lest we should hear too clear, too clear,

And unto madness see!