God of the roadside weed,
Grant I may humbly serve the humblest need.
God of the scarlet rose,
Give me the beauty that Thy love bestows.
God of the hairy bee,
Help me to suck deep joys from all I see.
God of the spider's lace,
Let me, from mine own heart, unwind such grace.
God of the lily's cup,
Fill me! I hold this empty chalice up.
God of the sea-gull's wing,
Bear me above each dark and turbulent thing.
God of the watchful owl,
Help me to see at midnight, like this fowl.
God of the antelope,
Teach me to scale the highest crags of Hope.
God of the eagle's nest,
Oh, let me make my eyrie near thy breast!
God of the burrowing mole,
Let cold earth have no terrors for my soul.
God of the chrysalis,
Grant that my grave may be a cell of bliss.
God of the butterfly,
Help me to vanquish Death, although I die.
--Frederic Lawrence Knowles.