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> Poems
Prayer for the Aged
"Lord, Thou knowest better than
I know myself that I am growing older,
and will someday be old.
"Keep me from getting talkative,
and particularly from the fatal habit of
thinking I must say something on
every occasion.
"Release me from craving to try
to straighten out everybody's affairs."
"Keep my mind free from the
recital of endless details-give me wings
to get to the point.
"I ask for grace enough to listen
to the tales of others pains. Help me
to endure them with patience.
"But seal my lips on my own
aches and pains-they are increasing,
and my love of rehearsing them is
becoming sweeter as the years go by.
"Teach me the glorious lesson
that occasionally it is possible that I
may be mistaken.
"Keep me reasonably sweet; I do
not want to be a saint-some of them
are so hard to live with-but a sour old
person is one of the crowning works of
the devil.
"Me me thoughtful, but not moody; helpful but not bossy. With
my vast store of wisdom, it seems a
pity not to use it all-but Thou knowest Lord,
that I want a few friends at the end. Author Unknown. |
