The First Voice
Breathe on our bright round eyes and over them
The triple curtain of the lids will close.
If Man, the unjust, pay us by casting stones,
For filling field and wood and eaves with song,
For battling with the weevil for his bread,
If he lime twigs for us, if he spread snares,
Call to our memory Thy gentle Saint,
Thy good Saint Francis, that we may forgive
The cruelty of men because a man
Once called us brothers, “My brothers, the birds!”
The Second Voice
Saint Francis of Assisi—
A Thousand Voices
[Among the leaves.] Pray for us!
The Voice
Confessor of the mavis—
All the Voices
Pray for us!
The Voice
Preacher to the swallows—
All the Voices
Pray for us!
The Voice
O tender dreamer of a generous dream,
Who didst believe so surely in our soul
That, ever since, our soul, and ever more,
Affirms, defines itself—
All the Voices
Remember us!
The First Voice
And by the favour of thy prayers obtain
The needful daily sup and crumb! Amen.