INVOCATION.
O comic Spirit, hovering overhead,
With sage’s brows and finely tempered smile, From whose bowed lips a silvery laugh is sped At pedantry, stupidity, and guile—
So visioned by that sage on whom you bent Always a look of perfect sympathy, Whose laugh, like yours, was never idly spent— Look, Spirit, sometimes fellowly on me!
Instruct and guide me in the gentle art Of thoughtful laughteronce satyric noise; Vouchsafe to me, I humbly ask, some part, However little of your perfect poise.
Keep me from bitterness, contempt, and scorn, From anger, pride, impatience, and disdain. When I am self-deceived your smile shall warn, Your volleyed laughter set me right again.
Am I inspired to mirth or mockery, Grant, Spirit, that it be not overdrawn; And 1 am I moved to malice, let it be Only “the sunny malice of a faun.”
8.L.T., in Motley Measures.
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New Zealand Tablet, 11 August 1921, Page 7
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146INVOCATION. New Zealand Tablet, 11 August 1921, Page 7
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