Prayer

The best prayer is small, its eyes closed
In odor it resembles nutmeg

If it can fly at all it’s like the blackbird
going out a few feet then back
to the bulrush.

The trades have prayers: for a roofer
a square of 3-tab means three bundles
weighing 80 pounds each, carried up
the long ladder, one at a time. It’s dirty work.
Mostly you hear the grunts, the huffing
and Jesus Christ.

What does it mean to have a prayer life?
Hard to generalize. Sun. Water. Dirt — all gifts.
(Some people do)

The poor are more disposed to prayer. It’s a train
they want to catch
Lots of bright, comfortable seats
A view toward the blue mountains
The food hot

But it’s not very pretty to see
the prayer up close
the pale face pulled forward
and down. Affliction, the oldest painting,
untoward, red