Page:Twilight Hours (1868).djvu/311

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ESAU.

ALL the day long have I laboured, my Father, my Father,
Sent by thy word from thy presence to serve afar off;
Now it is ended, and all is as dead leaves before thee;
Waste is my toil, and my hope, and my joy and reward.
Only my bitterness have I to bring thee, my Father ;
Yet, for my needs' sake, I pray thee, bless me, even me.

Rugged and heavy of speech am I, Father, my Father:
E'en for another I could not plead smoothly and well;
And for myself I am dumb, O my Father, my Father,
Dumb as a beast that is smitten and can but be still.
Yet hast thou known me and loved me of old, O my Father,
Now, for thy love's sake, I pray thee, bless me, even me.