A Pastoral Prayer

O Shepherd-Lord of rod and staff, Before thee now we bleat and pray, Who are the creatures of thy fold, That thou wilt bring us forth today. Thou Shepherd, whose strong voice we know, O guide and lead us in the way Beside the still, reflective pool, In sunlit fields to feed and play. There is no shepherd like to thee Come quiet in the dawning morn: The one clothed in a shepherd’s cloak, The fleece of foolish wool has worn. That we as sheep might each be called Thou as a poor, dumb...