Hint: In this way, the so-called "St. Francis Prayer" represents the spirit and experience of the man for whom it is named. Prayer is a prayer to God that we may live up to the true way that God wants for the human family to be-in-the-world.
Complete answer:
A poem's core concept is the subject of the poem, or 'what it's about' if you like. While many shy away from poetry being 'about' something, at the end of the day, as it was written, the poet had something in mind, and that something, whatever it was or may have been, is the central concept. The holy essence, the Peerless Spirit and the deadly flame are smoked in this hymn to place the will in the mind to do only what is right. The poet prays, through this poem, that he should be a sign of peace for all. This suggests that we are instructed by the poet to preserve peace around us. He hopes that where hate resides, he can be a source of love for all. Overall, he needs to remind us that, for others, we can be the root of all positive things. We should spread love, as in sad circ*mstances, in desperate moments, we should be the light of hope.
Note: This poem is a reflection of the spirit and outlook of the man it is named after. Prayer is a prayer to God that we may live up to the true way that God wants for the human family to be-in-the-world. To be most authentically human is to be an instrument of peace or, to put it in the spirit of the following lines of prayer, one who sows in our world: compassion, redemption, religion, hope, light and joy.
