A Prayer - In The Prospect Of Death.

Robert Burns 1759 (Alloway) – 1796 (Dumfries)



O Thou unknown, Almighty Cause
Of all my hope and fear?
In whose dread presence, ere an hour
Perhaps I must appear!
  
If I have wander'd in those paths
Of life I ought to shun;
As something, loudly, in my breast,
Remonstrates I have done;
  
Thou know'st that Thou hast formed me,
With passions wild and strong;
And list'ning to their witching voice
Has often led me wrong.
  
Where human weakness has come short,
Or frailty stept aside,
Do Thou, All-Good! for such thou art,
In shades of darkness hide.
  
Where with intention I have err'd,
No other plea I have,
But, Thou art good; and goodness still
Delighteth to forgive.
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Submitted on August 03, 2020

Modified on March 24, 2023

35 sec read
59

Quick analysis:

Scheme XAXA XBXB XCXC XDXD XXXX
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 607
Words 115
Stanzas 5
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 4, 4

Robert Burns

Robert Burns was a Scottish poet and lyricist. more…

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