The Prayer of Cyrus Brown

“The proper way for a man to pray,”
    Said Deacon Lemuel Keyes,
“And the only proper attitude
    Is down upon his knees.”

“No, I should say the way to pray,”
    Said Rev. Doctor Wise,
“Is standing straight with outstretched arms
    And rapt and upturned eyes.”

“Oh, no; no, no,” said Elder Slow,
    “Such posture is too proud:
A man should pray with eyes fast closed
    And head contritely bowed.”

“It seems to me his hands should be
    Austerely clasped in front.
With both thumbs pointing toward the ground,”
    Said Rev. Doctor Blunt.

“Las’ year I fell in Hodgkin’s well
    Head first,” said Cyrus Brown,
“With both my heels a-stickin’ up,
    My head a-pinting down;

“An’ I made a prayer right then an’ there–
    Best prayer I ever said,
The prayingest prayer I ever prayed,
    A-standing on my head.”

                                    Sam Walter Foss.

Sam Walter Foss was a librarian and a poet who lived from 1858–1911.  Here are some other quotes by Mr. Foss: