Analysis of Prayer

Robert Louis Stevenson 1850 (Edinburgh) – 1894 (Vailima, Samoa)



I ASK good things that I detest,
With speeches fair;
Heed not, I pray Thee, Lord, my breast,
But hear my prayer.

I say ill things I would not say -
Things unaware:
Regard my breast, Lord, in Thy day,
And not my prayer.

My heart is evil in Thy sight:
My good thoughts flee:
O Lord, I cannot wish aright -
Wish Thou for me.

O bend my words and acts to Thee,
However ill,
That I, whate'er I say or be,
May serve Thee still.

O let my thoughts abide in Thee
Lest I should fall:
Show me Thyself in all I see,
Thou Lord of all.


Scheme ABAB CBCB XDAD DEDE DFDF
Poetic Form Quatrain 
Metre 11111101 1101 11111111 1111 11111111 101 01111011 0111 11110011 1111 1111011 1111 11110111 101 11101111 1111 11110101 1111 1110111 1111
Closest metre Iambic trimeter
Characters 509
Words 111
Sentences 6
Stanzas 5
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 4, 4
Lines Amount 20
Letters per line (avg) 19
Words per line (avg) 5
Letters per stanza (avg) 77
Words per stanza (avg) 22
Font size:
 

Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on April 28, 2023

33 sec read
203

Robert Louis Stevenson

Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson was a Scottish novelist, poet, essayist, and travel writer. more…

All Robert Louis Stevenson poems | Robert Louis Stevenson Books

4 fans

Discuss this Robert Louis Stevenson poem analysis with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add this poem analysis to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "Prayer" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 May 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/31659/prayer>.

    Become a member!

    Join our community of poets and poetry lovers to share your work and offer feedback and encouragement to writers all over the world!

    May 2024

    Poetry Contest

    Join our monthly contest for an opportunity to win cash prizes and attain global acclaim for your talent.
    12
    days
    4
    hours
    28
    minutes

    Special Program

    Earn Rewards!

    Unlock exciting rewards such as a free mug and free contest pass by commenting on fellow members' poems today!

    Browse Poetry.com

    Quiz

    Are you a poetry master?

    »
    Who wrote the poem “Funeral Blues"?
    A Amy Clampitt
    B Victor Hugo
    C Pablo Neruda
    D W. H. Auden