Poetry Smackdown

"Lord of All Hopefulness"
by Jan Struther (1901-1953)

Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy,
Whose trust, ever childlike, no cares could destroy:
Be there at our waking, and give us, we pray,
Your bliss in our hearts, Lord, at the break of the day.

Lord of all eagerness, Lord of all faith,
Whose strong hands were skilled at the plane and the lathe:
Be there at our labors, and give us, we pray,
Your strength in our hearts, Lord, at the noon of the day.

Lord of all kindliness, Lord of all grace,
Your hands swift to welcome, Your arms to embrace:
Be there at our homing, and give us, we pray,
Your love in our hearts, Lord, at the even of the day.

Lord of all gentleness, Lord of all calm,
Whose voice is contentment, whose presence is balm:
Be there at our sleeping, and give us, we pray,
Your peace in our hearts, Lord, at the end of the day.

Commentary: "Lord of All Hopefulness" was written as a hymn, but methinks it works perfectly well as a poem, too. I also enjoy "Lord of All Hopefulness" as a Christian counterpoint to Kipling's "A Song to Mithras," which has often been quoted here at The Secret Base; there is nothing wrong with quoting, reading, or enjoying "A Song to Mithras," but it is nice to have an expressly Christian echo all the same.