Book of Common Prayer

[Katray]

Pain poetically revealed is pain lessened, in my experience. Excellent piece!

[DWAYNE]

A surgical expression of disillusioned pain!

[pipersfancy]

Many thanks!

[MHenry]

Hi, pipersfancy, Each stanza more powerful and beautiful than the next, I am particularly enthralled with the last stanza, which is truly a poetic beauty!

[pipersfancy]

Thank you grant hayes, imrogue, Parkinsonpoet. Occasionally, a poem that is less expression of creativity and more act of exorcism stills find its way to the surface. So, there is a very pragmatic need for the calling on of help from a higher power, as symbolized in the use of liturgical terms. Much appreciation for your comments.

[Parkinsonspoet]

Book of common prayer uncommomly good poem

[imrogue]

i really like this poem

[grant hayes]

Says so much so succinctly and powerfully. The integration of liturgical terms is the key to the poem's effectiveness, I think.

[pipersfancy]

When you said I love you
I took you at face value
and married you for better
or for worse
amen

You took me to be a fool
in your seclusion of hidden
need—forbidden desire—
painted blue
hallelujah

to live your cloistered life
unsafe in your keeping
prayers on broken knees
recited daily
amen

whispers in the darkness
hold together parts of self
while others fly away
sacrificial doves
released