The Empty Bowl

Ella Wheeler Wilcox 1855 (Janesville) – 1919



I held the golden vessel of my soul
And prayed that God would fill it from on high.
Day after day the importuning cry
Grew stronger-grew, a heaven-accusing dole
Because no sacred waters laved my bowl.
'So full the fountain, Lord, wouldst Thou deny
The little needed for a soul's supply?
I ask but this small portion of Thy whole.'
Then from the vast invisible Somewhere,
A voice, as one love-authorized by Him,
Spake, and the tumult of my heart was stilled.
'Who wants the waters must the bowl prepare;
Pour out the self, that chokes it to the brim,
But emptied vessels, from the Source are filled.'

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

33 sec read
140

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABBAABBACDECDE
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 594
Words 112
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 14

Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Ella Wheeler Wilcox was an American author and poet. more…

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