The Prayer of Miriam Cohen
The Prayer of Miriam Cohen - meaning Summary
Shelter from Dangerous Knowledge
Kipling’s poem gives voice to a communal plea for protective ignorance. The speaker asks God to shield people from cosmic forces, divine purposes, and unsettling revelations—preferring bodily safety and everyday limits to knowledge that might unmake them. The repeated request for a veil emphasizes fear that too-clear sight of ultimate truths, wars, or metaphysical realities would overwhelm or drive people mad, so preserved normalcy is chosen over revelation.
Read Complete AnalysesFrom the wheel and the drift of Things Deliver us, Good Lord, And we will face the wrath of Kings, The faggot and the sword! Lay not thy Works before our eyes Nor vex us with thy Wars, Lest we should feel the straining skies O'ertrod by trampling stars. Hold us secure behind the gates Of saving flesh and bone, Lest we should dream what Dream awaits The Soul escaped alone. Thy Path, thy Purposes conceal From our beleaguered realm Lest any shattering whisper steal Upon us and o'erwhelm. A veil 'twixt us and Thee, Good Lord, A veil 'twixt us and Thee-- Lest we should hear too clear, too clear, And unto madness see!
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