THE SWORD OF SONG 
36
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 
Prayer51—tests 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 things 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 affair52 
About” validity of prayer. 
But back !  Let once again address 
Ourselves to super-consciusness ! 
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 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Marvellous an-
swer to prayer.  
Prayer and 
averages. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Are the results 
of meditation 
due to auto-
hypnosis ? 
 
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