<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="" class="head">The Prayer</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">She</span> drew the grey shawl round her head;</p><p class="line">"Sure it is bitter cold," she said;</p><p class="line">"An' is there news of <em>him</em>, asthore?"</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%"><em>God help the mothers of the world!</em></p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">"I do be prayin' to mesel'</p><p class="line">The Lord may keep him safe and well</p><p class="line">An' bring him back to his mother's door."</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%"><em>God help the mothers of the world!</em></p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">"The lambs are perished wid the storm.</p><p class="line">God keep his darlin' head from harm!</p><p class="line">It's well for her has ne'er a one!"</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%"><em>God help the mothers of the world!</em></p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">And as I went my way I heard</p><p class="line">Her call like a lamenting bird:</p><p class="line">"I used to fret that had no son."</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%"><em>God help the mothers of the world!</em></p></div></body></html> · Great War