Poem February 16, 1935 Issue

Aspiration

Anne H. Brogan

Dear God, we ask that we may love Thee for Thyself alone,
For all the goodness and the beauty that are Thine;
That we may know adoringly that Thou art Love supreme;
The One serene, unchangeable, in power divine;
The One most lovely, and the most to be desired by all.
Let love for Thee alone make every heart a shrine
Of purest joy.

Not only for the gracious gifts which Thou hast freely given;
Not for the things our human need would vainly seek;
Let not the loaves and fishes of our mortal thought prevail;
Oh, let us not but turn to Thee because we're weak,
And serve Thee only when our sense is filled with human fear;
Nor seek Thee out because the sense-dreams vengeance wreak—
Not just for that!

But ever more and more with perfect trust and reverent will,
As steadfast as the silent ray of lovely star,
Let our love turn to Thee with deep desire, unswervingly;
Or as the lovely petals of the bud unfold, and far
Outpour their fragrance to the waiting airs that waft it on,
So let our love flow out to where Thy love and fullness are, And know Thee—All.

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