The Paratrooper's Prayer

The Paratrooper's Prayer

The Paratrooper's Prayer is a French poem found in the possession of the presumed author, Aspirant (Lieutenant) André Zirnheld, upon his death in Libya in 1942. The Paratrooper's Prayer has been adopted by all French Paratroopers, including those belonging to the French Foreign Legion. The Prayer appears before A. J. Quinnell's novel "Man on Fire", the main protagonist of which is an ex-paratrooper in the French Foreign Legion.

Prayer

"I'm asking You God, to give me what You have left.
"Give me those things which others never ask of You.
"I don't ask You for rest, or tranquility.
"Not that of the spirit, the body, or the mind.
"I don't ask You for wealth, or success, or even health.
"All those things are asked of You so much Lord,
"that you can't have any left to give.
"Give me instead Lord what You have left.
"Give me what others don't want.
"I want uncertainty and doubt.
"I want torment and battle.
"And I ask that You give them to me now and forever Lord,
"so I can be sure to always have them,
"because I won't always have the strength to ask again.

"But give me also the courage, the energy,
"and the spirit to face them.
"I ask You these things Lord,
"because I can't ask them of myself.

(Translated here from the original French by Robert Petersen)

References

*Anthony W. Pahl, [http://www.iwvpa.net/zirnheldala/ International War Veterans' Poetry Archive]


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