I cannot tell why there should come to me

A thought of some one miles and years away,

In swift insistence on the memory,

Unless there be a need that I should pray.

Old Friends are far away: we seldom meet

To talk of Christ or changes day by day,

Of pain or pleasure, triumph or defeat,

Or special reasons why ’tis time to pray.

We are too busy even to spend thought

For days together of some friends away;

Perhaps God does it for us, and we ought

To read His signal as a call to pray.

Perhaps my friend just then has fiercer fight,

A more appalling weakness or decay,

Of courage, darkness, some lost sense of right

And so, in case you need my prayer I pray.

Friend, do the same for me. If I intrude

Unmasked upon you on some crowded day,

Give me a moment’s prayer as interlude;

Be sure I need it, therefore pray.

—–Marianne Farmington