178
THE SWORD OF SONG
Marvellous an-
swer to prayer.
Prayer and
averages,
Are the results
of meditation
due to auto-
hypnosis ?
So to the laws all bards obey
I bend, and seek in my own way
By false things to expound the real.
But never think I shall appeal
To Gods. What folly can compare
With such stupidity as prayer?
Some years ago I thought to try
Prayer ®!—test its efficacity.
I fished by a Norwegian lake.
‘ O God,” I prayed, “‘ for Jesus’ sake
Grant thy poor servant all his wish !
For every prayer produce a fish !”
Nine times the prayer went up the spout,
And eight times--what a thumping trout !
(This is the only true fish-story
I ever heard—give God the glory !)
The thing seems cruel now, of course.
Still, it’s a grand case of God’s force !
But, modern Christians, do you dare
With common prudence to compare
The efficacity of prayer?
Who will affirm of Christian sages
That prayer can alter averages?
The individual case allows
Some chance to operate, and thus
Destroys its value quite for us.
So that is why I knit my brows
And think—and find no thing to say
Or do, so foolish as to pray.
“So much for this absurd affair ”
About ” validity of prayer.
But back! Let once again address
Our minds to super-consciousness !
You weary me with proof enough
That all this meditation stuff
Is self-hypnosis. Be it so!
Do you suppose I did not know?
Still, to be accurate, I fear
The symptoms are entirely strange.
If I were hard, I’d make it clear
That criticism must arrange
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