For works with similar titles, see Prayer.

Boston: The Four Seas Company, pages 81–82

PRAYER

Lord and father of life,Of death and of bitter weeping,One or many, pitiful or cruel,Hear me, my prayer beatingLike rain importunately, without intermission,For life, for a little life.
Lord, you know not her or loveIf you let death take me,I will speak outright:No God, no nation, no cause,No life of any man, no person,Nothing created or living,Do I love as I love her.
I do not ask you for her—No god can take her from me,Take her kisses and lithe body.I ask life, a few yearsTo pour out for her,Until she tires of meOr age loosens her sinewsAnd I be no more delightful to her.
Her body is honey and wheat,The taste of her mouth delicate;Her eyes overcome me with desire,Her lips are a woman's.Under her feet I spread my daysAs soft silk for her walking.
She touches me with her handsAnd I am faint with beauty.The embraces of her body are wonderful,They are more to me than wisdom or honours.
Therefore I am not willing to dieSince she needs me.For her sake I would betray my comrades,I would rend the vesture of the most high!
Yet if you are so avid of bloodThat even she cannot move you,Poor God without a lover,Slay us together, mouth to mouth and happy,And we will thank not curse you.