Further Poems of Emily Dickinson/I prayed at first—a little girl—
I PRAYED at first—a little girl—
Because they told me to,
But stopped when qualified to guess
How prayer would sound to me
Because they told me to,
But stopped when qualified to guess
How prayer would sound to me
If I supposed God looked around
Each time my childish eye
Fixed full and steady on His own
In solemn honesty—
Each time my childish eye
Fixed full and steady on His own
In solemn honesty—
And told Him what I'd like to-day,
And parts of His far plan
That baffled me—the underside
Of His divinity.
And parts of His far plan
That baffled me—the underside
Of His divinity.
And often since in danger
I count the force 't would be
To have a God so strong as that,
To hold my life for me,
I count the force 't would be
To have a God so strong as that,
To hold my life for me,
Till I could catch the balance
That slips so easily;
It takes me all the while to poise,
And then it doesn't stay.
That slips so easily;
It takes me all the while to poise,
And then it doesn't stay.