A Prayer by Sara Teasdale (1915)
The poem expresses a deep yearning for love and connection, emphasizing the speaker's desire to experience love fully, regardless of whether it is reciprocated. The speaker articulates a sense of urgency, suggesting that they would rather love passionately and risk pain than live a life devoid of such profound emotions. The imagery evokes a stark contrast between the vibrancy of life and the numbness that comes from losing one's capacity to feel. The speaker's plea highlights the importance of love as a vital force, one that brings meaning and richness to existence. The tone is both fervent and contemplative, reflecting a struggle between the desire for love and the fear of emotional desolation. As the poem progresses, the speaker's commitment to love becomes more resolute, indicating a willingness to embrace vulnerability. The notion of loving "with all my strength" underscores the intensity of this longing, suggesting that love is an essential aspect of the human experience. The speaker's determination to love, regardless of the outcome, reveals a profound understanding of love's transformative power. The work ultimately conveys a message about the necessity of love in life, portraying it as a force that can illuminate even the darkest moments. The speaker's journey through the complexities of love serves as a reminder of its significance, urging readers to embrace their emotions and the connections they forge with others.
By Sara Teasdale · First published 1915 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Romanticism, Spiritual Poetry · 80 words
First lines
UNTIL I lose my soul and lie Blind to the beauty of the earth, Deaf tho' a lyric wind goes by, Dumb in a storm of mirth;
Until my heart is quenched at length And I have left the land of men, Oh let me love with all my strength Careless if I am loved again.
What this Textopian page supports
A Prayer is listed on Textopian as a poem by Sara Teasdale, dated 1915 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Sara Teasdale
- Date: 1915 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Lyric Poetry, Romanticism, Spiritual Poetry, Modernist Poetry, Confessional Poetry
- Length: 80 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Prayer by Sara Teasdale
- 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 A Prayer?
- How does this poem by Sara Teasdale fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Lyric Poetry first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Wind by Sara Teasdale
- Longing by Sara Teasdale
- Loves Apparition And Evanishment by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
- To The True Romance by Rudyard Kipling
- Song by Sara Teasdale
- The Shrine by Sara Teasdale
Genres
- Lyric Poetry — The poem expresses personal emotions and thoughts, characteristic of lyric poetry.
- Romanticism — Themes of love and nature reflect the ideals of Romanticism.
- Spiritual Poetry — The poem conveys a sense of yearning and spiritual longing.
- Modernist Poetry — The style and themes align with modernist explorations of individual experience.
Tags
prayer · love · beauty · nature · soul · emotion · longing · strength · heart · existence · suffering · yearning