Make of my voice a blue-edged Sword, Oh, Lord!
Strengthen my soul to deliver your war-cry,
Make of my voice a blue-edged sword, Oh, Lord!
Out of my frailness fashion a piercing reed,
Out of my pity a great battle ax,
Out of my frailness fashion a piercing reed!
I have had a vision and I cannot sleep,
A vision consumes me and tears me apart,
I have had a vision and I cannot sleep.
Oh body of mine, make of yourself a stronghold,
Gird yourself in the steel of your vision,
Oh body of mine, make of yourself a stronghold!
Make of my breath an infinite prophecy, Oh, Lord!
Make of my song a summons to prayer,
Make of my breath an infinite prophecy, Oh, Lord!
A vision consumes me and I am its slave and its lover,
Make of my spirit a song so that I may announce it!
A vision consumes me and I am its slave and its lover.
— Marya Zaturrenska
American poet, born September 12, 1902