Morning Prayer Poem by Brian P FitzGerald

The freezing draught deeply bites;
A grey-robed priest now shuffles past
"Let us Pray" the rector cites,
My collar I raise, I glance at the words.
"We have erred and strayed like lost sheep....."
I strayed last night; I froze in the yard....
I erred and sinned, for me no sleep
I followed my heart's devices and desires...."

Now on he drones, glasses perched on nose.
Th'old man sniffs and agèd feet they shuffle......
My heart's desires I followed, He knows
"O God, make speed to save us."
The words, they echo in chantry cold.
The chill - it muffles and stifles - no reward
Face down - in snow incarnadine behold;
"O ye Ice and Snow bless ye the Lord...."

An old crone, she coughs and gasps,
The murky breath, it hangs suspended.
"Lord, shew thy mercy upon us, " the priest he rasps
"Mercifully hear us, when we call upon thee."
No mercy from me was shown.
My fingers in pockets deep I thrust.
So tainted with frozen guilt, I own
For him in whom I betrayed his trust

The old priest sniffs, a dew-drop hangs,
To holy book is close and low.
My innermost guilt my mind harangues
My secret is buried by fallen snow,
From whom no secrets are hidden?
Who knows but thee, O Lord?
To me, O Lord, is salvation forbidden?
"Give peace in our time, O Lord."

"Let my cry, O Lord, come unto thee! "
O grant to me thy peace, O Lord.


(East Yorkshire, UK,15 March 2012)