Skip to content

Alicia Ostriker – Ⅲ

Prayer in Autumn 

 

 

 

 

As to the deep ineradicable flaws

in the workmanship

 

anger and envy

anger and envy

 

stemming from the overenthusiasm

that rises like a water lily from mud

 

and the stone

of self, of ego

 

that insists on its imperial monologue

that strangles its audience

 

I would like to repent but I cannot

I am ridden like a horse

 

~

 

What does the contriver have in mind

the contrivance wants to know

 

because otherwise what is the point

of all this moaning

 

pretending to be sorry for everything

groveling like a chained-up snake

 

crawling over a stone book

in the rain of words

 

for which someone is responsible

until at times the food devours the eater

 

the pot wishes to speak to the potter

the clay chooses the hands

 

~

 

We are not competent to make our vows

we are truly sorry

 

we pull you down from a cloud

or bend our knees to you like sideshow dogs

 

death breathing invisibly next to us on the bus

in the office in the kitchen on the park bench

 

we promise to love only you

faithful, faithful, we promise

 

we lie, we are not competent

still we implore you

 

please look at us and take us in your arms

not like a master, like a mother

 >