Poem-a-Day April 10: Hands Wide Shut

Prayer

Dear Lord
Show me
The way—
Take
My heart
And throw
It away

Lord, take
My heart
And throw
It out

Lord, throw
My heart
Way out

 
Hello Friends,

When you read poet Robert Glück’s “Prayer,” do you picture hands closed in prayer, or hands wide open in prayer?

There’s something of Kay Ryan in the cadence over these short choppy lines. I’m also reminded of a handful of other prayer-related poem-a-days from past Aprils: Julia Vinograd’s “Ballad,” Maia McAleavey’s “This is not a love poem, 1895,” and Kathleen Peirce’s “Object Tension.”

I hope you’re enjoying National Poetry Month! If not, don’t forget to submit your unsubscribe request in the form of a heroic couplet.

Thanks,
Ellen

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