The Lords' Prayer to the Poor

John Wheelwright

We have no prayer, but Dread;
and no teacher, but Fear
that our Judgment draw near
which is prepared.
But, till your Kingdom come
we pray to you instead:
"Give us your daily bread."
Your dying Leader spared
our fathers when he said:
"They know not what they do."
But our deliberate will has long been done.
Our gory Sacrament
provides us gold from lead,
from labor, surplus.
As we forgive our debts, may you
forgive
us, when you come against us;
for we would not outlive
our Power and our Glory
when they are spent -
and dead... .