William Stanley Braithwaite, ed. (1878–1962). Anthology of Magazine Verse for 1920.

Invocation

MAKE of my voice a blue-edged Sword, Oh, Lord!

Strengthen my soul to deliver your war-cry,

Make of my voice a blue-edged sword, Oh, Lord!

Out of my frailness fashion a piercing reed,

Out of my pity a great battle ax,

Out of my frailness fashion a piercing reed!

I have had a vision and I cannot sleep,

A vision consumes me and tears me apart,

I have had a vision and I cannot sleep.

Oh body of mine, make of yourself a stronghold,

Gird yourself in the steel of your vision,

Oh body of mine, make of yourself a stronghold!

Make of my breath an infinite prophecy, Oh, Lord!

Make of my song a summons to prayer,

Make of my breath an infinite prophecy, Oh, Lord!

A vision consumes me and I am its slave and its lover,

Make of my spirit a song so that I may announce it!

A vision consumes me and I am its slave and its lover.

Contemporary Verse