Philip Metres November 04, 2015

Prayer

Then the Lord stretched out His hand and touched my mouth…
Jer 1:9
 
render me
null & voice
may I not be
fallen noise
 
listener up there
tune your air
& liquid tongue
let your unsung
 
devouring mouth
give birth
to these words
lavish & ludicrous
 
an unwalled museum
a windowed mausoleum
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This article also appeared in print, under the headline "Prayer," in the November 16, 2015 issue.

Philip Metres

Philip Metres, professor of English at John Carroll University in Cleveland, is the first winner of the George W. Hunt, S.J., Prize.

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