I Need Thy Light Poem by Dr. Tulsi Hanumanthu

I Need Thy Light (A Villanelle inTetrametre)

To distinguish between black and white
Things of the world that go in disguise,
O Lord, I sorely need thy light.

To pierce the masks, too weak my sight.
Though ripe in age, I'm too unwise,
To distinguish between black and white.

To clearly tell the day from night
And cream of Truth from scum of lies,
O Lord, I sorely need thy light.

Some say Right is mirror of Might;
My mettle, to me, the power denies
To distinguish between black and white.

At times the Wrong appears as Right;
From its dark dazzle to shield my eyes,
O Lord, I sorely need thy light.

Thou holdest Right at a great height!
To reach that level help me rise.
To distinguish between black and white,
O Lord, I sorely need Thy Light.