A Little Kingdom I Possess

A lit­tle king­dom I pos­sess

Where thoughts and feel­ings dwell

And ve­ry hard I find the task

Of gov­ern­ing it well;

For pas­sion tempts and trou­bles me

A way­ward will mis­leads

And self­ish­ness its sha­dow casts

On all my will and deeds.

How can I learn to rule my­self

To be the child I should

Be hon­est

brave

and nev­er tire

Of try­ing to be good?

How can I keep a sun­ny soul

To shine along life’s way?

How can I tune my lit­tle heart

To sweet­ly sing all day?

Dear Fa­ther

grant to me the love

That cast­est out my fear!

Teach me to lean on Thee and feel

That Thou art ve­ry near.

That no temp­ta­tion is un­seen

No child­ish grief too small

Since Thou

with pa­tie­nce in­fi­nite

Dost soothe and com­fort all.

I do not ask for any crown

But that which all may win;

Nor try to con­quer any world

Except the one with­in.

Be Thou my guide un­til I find

Led by a ten­der hand

Thy hap­py king­dom in my­self

And dare to take com­mand.