Prayer-O Thou Dread Power by Robert Burns
The speaker offers a sincere prayer to a dread Power for a peaceful, loving family. He asks that the aged father be spared from death and continue to bless his children through his example of goodness. He prays that the mother may enjoy her children without suffering a mother’s grief. He asks that the family’s beloved young son, entering manhood, be blessed according to his parents’ hopes. For the beautiful sisters, he requests protection and guidance amid the snares surrounding them. Finally, he prays that, after life’s difficult journey, the whole family may arrive in Heaven together, with none lost.
By Robert Burns · First published 1786 · Genre: Religious Poetry, Devotional Poetry, Lyric Poetry · 255 words
First lines
Lying at a reverend friend's house one night, the author left the following verses in the room where he slept: -
O Thou dread Power, who reign'st above, / I know thou wilt me hear, / When for this scene of peace and love, / I make this prayer sincere.
The hoary Sire-the mortal stroke, / Long, long be pleas'd to spare; / To bless this little filial flock, / And show what good men are.
She, who her lovely offspring eyes / With tender hopes and fears, / O bless her with a mother's joys, / But spare a mother's tears!
Similar titles
- Prayer In The Prospect Of Death by Robert Burns
- Stanzas On The Same Occasion by Robert Burns
- The Farewell To The Brethren Of St James Lodge Tarbolton by Robert Burns
- Far From The World O Lord I Flee by John Newton
- Prayer Under The Pressure Of Violent Anguish by Robert Burns
- Prayer From The Arabic by George Borrow
Genres
- Religious Poetry — The work is explicitly structured as a prayer addressed to God, requesting divine protection, blessing, guidance, and eventual salvation for a family.
- Devotional Poetry — Its sincere supplicatory voice, reverent language, and focus on faith, providence, and heaven make it a personal devotional verse.
- Lyric Poetry — The poem is a short, emotionally direct lyrical expression of the speaker's pious hopes and affectionate concern for his hosts.
- Occasional Poetry — Burns composed it for a specific social circumstance: after staying overnight at the home of a reverend friend, he left the verses in the room where he slept.
Tags
prayer poem · devotional lyric · Christian faith · divine providence · family blessing · domestic love · peaceful household · aged father · maternal joy · parental hopes · beloved son · coming of age
What this Textopian page supports
Prayer-O Thou Dread Power is listed on Textopian as a poem by Robert Burns, dated 1786 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Robert Burns
- Date: 1786 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Religious Poetry, Devotional Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Occasional Poetry, Prayer
- Length: 255 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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- Work identity for Prayer-O Thou Dread Power by Robert Burns
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