The solidity of old prayers
carves meaning on the tongue
and in the heart.
Better than untried words
is the echoed memory
of all the whispered pleas
or praises
of the past.
The same sounds
chanted through the years
build a wall you can rest on
for a while,
without thought, untroubled,
quietly.
Anne Brooke’s fiction has been shortlisted for the Harry Bowling Novel Award, the Royal Literary Fund Awards and the Asham Award for Women Writers. She has also twice been the winner of the DSJT Charitable Trust Open Poetry Competition. Her latest poetry collection is A Stranger’s Table, and her latest novel is Maloney’s Law. Both are available from Amazon. Her work is represented by agent John Jarrold, and she has a secret passion for birdwatching. More information can be found at www.annebrooke.com and she keeps a terrifyingly honest journal at http://annebrooke.blogspot.com.
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23 Responses to “OLD PRAYERS • by Anne Brooke”
Comments
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April 10th, 2009 at 1:24 am
An excellent piece, but I felt the last two lines, especially the word ‘quietly’, let it down.
Maybe ‘peacefully’ would have worked better.
April 10th, 2009 at 4:06 am
I think it’s just the perfect poem for Good Friday, Anne. Thank you.
April 10th, 2009 at 4:37 am
I’m with Oonah. The perfect Good Friday poem.
April 10th, 2009 at 6:31 am
Strange!
Two comments on how perfect the poem is, yet only I’ve voted!
April 10th, 2009 at 6:45 am
Not a religious person, even I appreciated this poem.
April 10th, 2009 at 6:51 am
A soft, smooth feel, almost like a prayer itself. I like the suggestion of ‘peacefully’ – but, it’s beautiful none-the-less.
April 10th, 2009 at 7:24 am
Very fine poem, and a good description in the second paragraph of why we repeat old verses and prayers to ourselves, raising our consciousness of the depth of the memorized words which spring easily to one’s memory. The third paragraph and last line seem to describe the dangers of rote, merely repeating words mechanically and unthinkingly.
I like this poem so much, I would like to memorize it itself, to repeat it to myself, except that the rhythms don’t seem to lend themselves to it in my case. Of course it’s possible, like memorizing lines of prose, but ….
April 10th, 2009 at 9:40 am
[...] is that my Good Friday poem, Old Prayers, is now published at Every Day Poets and can be found here. I hope you like [...]
April 10th, 2009 at 9:58 am
Beautiful poem and so true, it brings on a sense of peace
April 10th, 2009 at 10:43 am
Very nice, Anne.
April 10th, 2009 at 11:37 am
Thanks so much for the comments – really appreciated. Will have a think about those last two lines though – thanks for the tip!
Axxx
April 10th, 2009 at 11:44 am
This is beautifully expressed. Apart from the last 2 lines, which I don’t think are necessary.
April 10th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
I loved my own peaceful feeling after reading this poem….very nice. Thank you for putting it out there!
April 10th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
Very lovely. Agree with the suggestion of “peacefully”; I’d also omit “without thought” since that goes against the whole idea of quiet contemplation–prayer is, after all, very much an act of the will and mind.
April 10th, 2009 at 3:19 pm
I like the last tow lines, Anne. I think they round the poem off beautifully and give the reader that sense of peace – for me they do…
April 10th, 2009 at 9:08 pm
Very beautiful poem Anne, thank you. I agree with Oonah about the sense of peace.
April 10th, 2009 at 11:39 pm
A wonderfully prayerful poem.
–dj
April 11th, 2009 at 12:17 am
Beautifully peaceful, Anne.
April 11th, 2009 at 7:29 am
Thank you – again! Axxx
April 11th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
For me, the heart of the poem is in the two middle stanzas. I love the line “Better than untried words” — says so much so simply about how it’s better to whisper these prayers rather than leave them unspoken. I also love the image of the wall of serenity built upon incantations, a refuge from the chaos of the world that’s found in solitary thought. I’ve read through a few times, and I just don’t like the last stanza, feels a little unnecessary, as the same sentiments are expressed so well in the previous lines. Ah well, to each their own, and regardless, this is a great poem.
April 12th, 2009 at 12:32 am
Thanks, Juan – much appreciated! Axxx
April 12th, 2009 at 3:17 am
Enjoyed this very much.
Cheers
Mark
July 24th, 2009 at 2:33 am
Thanks, Mark!
Axxx