Poem That Is New To Me

[woofgang]

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 1 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

[Ellipsis]

That's not bad. She'll go far ...

[masterchef]

She's the current Poet Laureate I believe

[Rosie29]

I have always liked this poem - so evocative.

[Ellipsis]

She is, masterchef :)

[woofgang]

I didn't realise she is the current Laureate, just found the poem and it sliced into me like a knife.