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Our Daily Bread
Susan Coolidge

"Give me our daily bread," we pray
And know but half of what we say
The bread on which our bodies feed
is but the moiety of our need.
The soul, the heart, must nourished be
And share the daily urgency.
And tho' it may be bitter bread

On which our nobler parts are fed.
No less we crave the daily dole
O Lord of body, and of soul.
The sting for pride, the smart for sin
The purging draught, for self within.

The sorrows which are shuddering meet
Not knowing the after taste of sweet.
All these we ask for, when we pray
"Give us our daily bread each day."
Lord! have us not thirst, unfed
Give us this but substantial bread.
Until, these mortal deeds all past
We sit at Thy full feast at last.
The Bread of angels broken by Thee
The wine of joy, poured constantly.