The Proper Way to Pray

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

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

"Oh, no, no, no"
Said Elmer Slow.
"Such posture's too proud.
A man should pray with eyes closed and head bowed."

"Seems to me his hands should be
Austerely clasped in front,
With both thumbs pointing toward the ground,"
Said Rev. Dr. Blunt.

"Last year I fell in Hitchkin's well,
Headfirst," said Cyrus Brown,
"And both my heels were stickin' up
And my head was a pointin' down.

"And I made a prayer right then and there,
The best prayer I ever said.
The prayin'est prayer I ever prayed
Was standin' on my head."

Errata, March 2005
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Original Title: "The Prayer of Cyrus Brown"
Original Author: "Sam Walter Foss"

[ Author Unknown -- from Keith Todd ]