A task is
Before me.
Can I, O God, perform it?
Dole me patience
Enough that I be sustained,
For I am indeed in need of strength.
Give me, O God, thy Grace.
Hear my suppliance;
I am a beggar for a crumb;
Justly deal me mercy;
Keep me within the pale of judgement.
Leave me wit, that I may perform thy duty;
Make the task perfect,
Neither constrained nor overdone.
O beloved God, keep tryst with me;
Prithee give ear unto my prayer.
Quiet the turbulence of my heart.
Righteously shall I endeavor,
Steeling me against the tongue of irony,
That I suffer not upon the judgement of this.
Upon me distill thine and,
Vouchsafe the succor.
Wound not with thine indifference,
Yea, this thy servant upon the path of folly
Zealously endeavoring that she follow a fool.
February 17th, 1926

Wit is the bead upon the cup,
wisdom is the wine,
Learning is the froth,
and love the sweet, if there be any.

What is my voice?---
A vague thing carrying naught but a song,
Some wisdom, little learning, keen atimes.
I have naught to enthrall thee
save that ye would drink with me
A common cup of understanding.

Lo, I proffer thee the wine of my being---
for I have lived.
I proffer thee wine which is bitter---
for I have wept.
I proffer thee wine which is sweet---
for I have loved.
I proffer thee wine which is salt---
for I have sweat.
I proffer thee wine which is rich in dreams---
for I, too, have dreamed.

No man, however his tongue be keen, can do more.