# A Prayer explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Sarah Louisa Forten Purvis.

## What happens

A prayerful poem that expresses unwavering faith in God's justice and mercy, asserting that divine power transcends earthly chains and will ultimately bring both master and slave to seek mercy.

## Themes in this chapter

### Faith and Prayer

The entire poem is a prayer, expressing trust in God's power and mercy.

### Injustice and Divine Justice

Contrasts earthly chains and oppression with God's supreme power and ultimate justice.

## Character check-ins

### Poor Afric

Implied as the 'poor and trembling slave' for whom Christ spoke and came to save.

### Christ

Referenced as the blessed Saviour who spoke for the slave and came to save.

## Key lines

> We feel the chains that bind us all, And bend us to man’s will; But can they hold our souls enthrall’d, Or bid our voice be still?

Though we are physically bound and forced to obey human masters, our spirits remain free and our voices cannot be silenced.

_Affirms spiritual resistance despite physical enslavement._

> And master and the slave shall e’en To thee for mercy turn.

Ultimately, both the enslaver and the enslaved will have to seek mercy from God.

_Highlights the theme of divine justice and equality before God._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_20_se/chapters/a-prayer
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_20_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_20_se/chapters