Prayer in Time of War
The poem is a prayer for guidance and forgiveness during wartime. It acknowledges the speaker's past mistakes and asks God to teach them how to pray again. The speaker recognizes their wrongdoing, including prioritizing their own comfort over others' well-being, and expresses remorse for straying from God's will. The poem concludes by asking God to help England find a new, beautiful life and to lay that life in His hands.
By Edith Nesbit · First published 1915 · Genre: War Literature, Historical Fiction, Poetry · 251 words
First lines
NOW Death is near, and very near, In this wild whirl of horror and fear, When round the vessel of our State Roll the great mountain waves of hate.
God! We have but one prayer to-day- O Father, teach us how to pray.
For prayer is strong, and very strong; But we have turned from Thee so long To follow gods that have no power Save in the safe and sordid hour, That to Thy feet we have lost the way . . .
O Father, teach us how to pray.
What this Textopian page supports
Prayer in Time of War is listed on Textopian as an essay by Edith Nesbit, dated 1915 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Essay
- Author: Edith Nesbit
- Date: 1915 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: War Literature, Historical Fiction, Poetry, Religious Literature
- Length: 251 words
- Structure: 1 section, 10 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Prayer in Time of War by Edith Nesbit
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Prayer in Time of War?
- How does this essay by Edith Nesbit fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does War Literature first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Aquileia by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- The Fields Of Flanders by Edith Nesbit
- The Christians New Year Prayer by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- War Mothers by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- The Book Of Martyrs by Emily Dickinson
- The Marne by Edith Wharton
Genres
- War Literature — The narrative revolves around the experiences and impacts of war.
- Historical Fiction — The story is set in a specific historical period and context.
- Poetry — The work is written in verse form, employing poetic devices.
- Religious Literature — The narrative explores themes of faith and spirituality, particularly in the context of war.
Tags
War · Prayer · Religion · Spirituality · Christianity · Faith · Hope · Inspiration · Motivation · Historical Fiction · Literary Fiction · Classic Literature