Classic Poem

Lord God, I have been guilty in my life,
Yet worshiped Beauty, and aspire to make
A work that shall have love and faith, heart-break,
Passion and joy and triumph after strife,
And all the glow wherewith the sky is rife.

And I implore thee, Master, for the sake
Of this, the longing of my soul, to give
Thy potent aid: since thou art pain and bliss
And faith and love and everything that is.
Look down upon my work and let it live
And be for ever lovely; and for this
Great boon of thine, I swear to do Thy will
Each several hour, all other wills above;
Yea, I will burn six candles at Thy shrine
That stands betwixt the crossways, as a sign
Of the devotion that is in my heart.

Hark to my supplication, thou who art
Merciful: let my work be sanctified
And meet for her, the blameless Virgin bride:
Make me all pure for painting, so I can
Speak, through my pigments, of the Son of man.