RE-CALLING (CALLING) JOHN CLARE

WHAT JOHN CLARE SAYS ABOUT PRAYER

            He'll not despise their prayers though mute,

            but still regard the destitute.

                        John Clare

Walk into kitchen in the dark,

morning, (after kicking the vacuum

I'd left in the hall), (Why didn't I

turn on the light) before turning

(What is it about this darkness),

to any light, and there,

on the counter island

the poem from yesterday

for the woman dressed

in red, hooded black, I read

it through, while eating

saltine cracker (light

I can eat), left out

from last night, she

is so beautiful waving

at deportees, music in her arms

Jim Bodeen

4 October 2019