Poetic Divination

“Sancta Maria” by Edgar Allan Poe

Sancta Maria! turn thine eyes –

Upon the sinner’s sacrifice,

Of fervent prayer and humble love,

From thy holy throne above.

At morn – at noon – at twilight dim –

Maria! thou hast heard my hymn!

In joy and wo – in good and ill –

Mother of God, be with me still!

When the Hours flew brightly by,

And not a cloud obscured the sky,

My soul, lest it should truant be,

Thy grace did guide to thine and thee;

Now, when storms of Fate o’ercast

Darkly my Present and my Past,

Let my Future radiant shine

With sweet hopes of thee and thine!