A Prayer in Sickness

SEND down Thy wingèd angel, God!

   Amid this night so wild;

And bid him come where now we watch,

   And breathe upon our child!

She lies upon her pillow, pale,

   And moans within her sleep,

Or wakeneth with a patient smile,

   And striveth not to weep.

How gentle and how good a child

   She is, we know too well,

And dearer to her parents' hearts

   Than our weak words can tell.

We love -- we watch throughout the night,

   To aid, when need may be;

We hope -- and have despaired, at times;

   But now we turn to Thee!

Send down Thy sweet-souled angel, God!

   Amid the darkness wild;

And bid him soothe our souls to-night,

   And heal our gentle child!

Barry Cornwall (Bryan Waller Procter)

Index to poems in the collection by Barry Cornwall