Prayer Before Poems

Great Author of a world, of sky, of sea; Whose lyrics are translated by the birds, Come close and in the stillness I may learn To worship Thee with words. Thou, who dost guide all groping, gifted hands ’Till they can finger every helpless string And find the souls of violins and harps, Aid me to sing. Artist, who did the great originals, And carved the tender features of a saint, Who chose the colors for a universe, Teach me to paint.