An Evening Family Prayer

[pqb57]

Lord, behold our family here assembled.
We thank you for this place in which we dwell,
for the love that unites us,
for the peace accorded to us this day,
for the hope with which we expect the morrow;
for the health, the work, the food and the bright skies
that make our lives delightful;
for our friends in all parts of the Earth.
Amen
Robert Louis Stevenson

[ktd222]

'assembled' is such an artificial--almost mechanical word--which makes this poem or prayer lack any feeling to it. What happens to the 'prayer' then is that it seems put together by the Mind, not the Heart. Also, the repeated uses of the word 'for' gives the things that are given thanks for a condescending tone. That word 'dwell' doesn't help make the prayer heart felt either.

[ShoutGrace]

I found this poem to be merely honest, and simple. I find great feeling in it; though it is of a more dutiful, respectful feeling.

I like the entire thing. It seems like a synopsis of the middle part of Ecclesiastes, where Solomon is generally saying something to the effect of "You can't know everything and you can't attain everything. Be content with simple pleasures and innocent pastimes, take comfort in the knowledge that there is more knowledge out there than you will ever comprehend."


That word 'dwell' doesn't help make the prayer heart felt either.

How so?

[ktd222]

I found this poem to be merely honest, and simple. I find great feeling in it; though it is of a more dutiful, respectful feeling.

How so?

That may be the intent of this poem, but it's the word choices that take away from me seeing this poem the way you do. Dwell/assemble/morrow, these words are just heavy sounding and puts in my mind unpleasant images associated with such words. But maybe it's the generations gap or just me.


I like the entire thing. It seems like a synopsis of the middle part of Ecclesiastes, where Solomon is generally saying something to the effect of "You can't know everything and you can't attain everything. Be content with simple pleasures and innocent pastimes, take comfort in the knowledge that there is more knowledge out there than you will ever comprehend."

As for this poem being traced to this biblical passage, I don't think so. I agree with you that the poem is about expressing 'thanks' for what is given, but that is it. Again, it's the word choices and blind attribution for what one has on earth that leaves me partial to my opinion.

[ShoutGrace]

Dwell/assemble/morrow, these words are just heavy sounding and puts in my mind unpleasant images associated with such words.

How could the word 'assemble' be associated with unpleasantness? It is a neutral word. People have assembled to celebrate the 4th of July. People assembled to listen to Dr. King's 'I have a Dream' speech.

'Dwell' may or may not be a little negative. I think that it means merely to reside in, to make your home somewhere, to exist in a certain place. If it is negative, I think that there are certain explanations for that which would tie in nicely with the background of the poem.

Perhaps the word 'morrow' can be attributed to a generational gap; again, all it means is 'the next day'. It could be entirely hopeful or depressing depending on the context, right? 'On the morrow we fight to the death'. 'On the morrow I graduate with honors!'.


As for this poem being traced to this biblical passage, I don't think so.

In retrospect I can see that my wording was a little off there. I should have said "To me, it seems like a synopsis . . ." I found corellations in my own mind; I shouldn't hardly think Stevenson was paraphrasing Ecclesiates there; though as far as I can tell he was a Christian (http://www.biblio.com/authors/618/Robert_Louis_Stevenson_Biography.html).




Lord, behold our family here assembled.
We thank you for this place in which we dwell,
for the love that unites us,
for the peace accorded to us this day,
for the hope with which we expect the morrow;
for the health, the work, the food and the bright skies
that make our lives delightful;
for our friends in all parts of the Earth.
Amen
Robert Louis Stevenson