BID a strong ghost stand at the head br That my Michael may sleep sound, br Nor cry, nor turn in the bed br Till his morning meal come round; br And may departing twilight keep br All dread afar till morning's back. br That his mother may not lack br Her fill of sleep. br Bid the ghost have sword in fist: br Some there are, for I avow br Such devilish things exist, br Who have planned his murder, for they know br Of some most haughty deed or thought br That waits upon his future days, br And would through hatred of the bays br Bring that to nought. br Though You can fashion everything br From nothing every day, and teach br The morning stats to sing, br You have lacked articulate speech br To tell Your simplest want, and known, br Wailing upon a woman's knee, br All of that worst ignominy br Of flesh and bone; br And when through all the town there ran br The servants of Your enemy, br A woman and a man, br Unless the Holy Writings lie, br Hurried through the smooth and rough br And through the fertile and waste, br protecting, till the danger past, br With human love.