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February 02, 2007
Feb 2: A (Silent) Poetry Reading
Prayer
Some days, although we cannot pray, a prayer
utters itself. So, a woman will lift
her head from the sieve of her hands and stare
at the minims sung by a tree, a sudden gift.
Some nights, although we are faithless, the truth
enters our hearts, that small familiar pain;
then a man will stand stock-still, hearing his youth
in the distant Latin chanting of a train.
Pray for us now. Grade I piano scales
console the lodger looking out across
a Midlands town. Then dusk, and someone calls
a child's name as though they named their loss.
Darkness outside. Inside, the radio's prayer -
Rockall. Malin. Dogger. Finisterre.
Carol Ann Duffy
---
Poetry reading by Grace's Poppies via Cara.
Posted by Anna at February 2, 2007 10:20 AM
Comments
Thank you, Anna.
Posted by: Pam at February 2, 2007 12:37 PM
This is so powerful. Prayer as a gift, wow. It's beautiful. Thank you!!
Posted by: Reya Mellicker at February 2, 2007 01:43 PM
Thank you!
Posted by: Cara at February 2, 2007 02:04 PM
Thanks, Anna.
Posted by: Ashley at February 2, 2007 02:07 PM
Thank you.
Posted by: Anne at February 2, 2007 02:12 PM
Thanks Anna,it's beautiful and I love the radio's prayer at the end. I always feel the shipping forecast has an almost Evensong quality to it.
Posted by: Alison at February 2, 2007 02:16 PM
Wow. That's fabulous.
Posted by: Lynn in Tucson at February 2, 2007 07:53 PM
Thank you for this.
Posted by: kodachrome at February 2, 2007 09:02 PM
Thank you for that lovely poem - I am just away to make another post to celebrate St Brigids day!
Posted by: Mhairi at February 2, 2007 10:07 PM
Thanks for the gorgeous poem, and thanks for reminding me about silent poetry reading day. I posted one of my favorites on my newborn blog.
Posted by: Nicole at February 3, 2007 02:01 PM
Beautiful poem! I will looking up her other works.
Posted by: Marie at February 4, 2007 05:05 AM
Thank you for the lovely poem. I also just finished my Dad's hat using your fair-isle chart. Have a look at my blog. Thanks for the chart too.
Posted by: Mary C. at February 5, 2007 04:54 PM
Lovely.
I like the understated gravitas that's here.
Very neat.
Posted by: dodgy at February 5, 2007 10:35 PM
this is beautiful!
Posted by: Janice at February 9, 2007 05:33 AM
I truly enjoyed your poem.
Posted by: Angie at February 14, 2007 05:08 PM