As Ever

Share this post
Gifts
jelliot.substack.com

Gifts

Dec 19, 2021
2
2
Share this post
Gifts
jelliot.substack.com

In the prison of his days
Teach the free man how to praise.
—Auden, “In Memory of W.B. Yeats”


In the past I drove many bargains of God.
Let me O Lord at least
Go here, see there, accomplish this
One little, one last
Thing before I die.
Then I will be satisfied.
Many He granted, mischievous.
A lover of practical jokes.

I no longer bargain, now. There are no more
Deals to strike. Only gifts
And their craters. Only to learn
To welcome another morning,
To weep but not to curse, smear, break oaths.
Only to praise: the strangest,
The blackest work for warped hands,
Scattered minds, hearts
Of dried blood.

Gate D98, November 2021

Pepper on Scrap Paper, Watercolor, Ink, and Pencil
2
Share this post
Gifts
jelliot.substack.com
2 Comments

Create your profile

0 subscriptions will be displayed on your profile (edit)

Skip for now

Only paid subscribers can comment on this post

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in

Check your email

For your security, we need to re-authenticate you.

Click the link we sent to , or click here to sign in.

Matt
Dec 19, 2021Liked by j. elliot

Absolument merveilleux !

Expand full comment
ReplyCollapse
1 reply by j. elliot
1 more comments…
TopNewCommunity

No posts

Ready for more?

© 2022 J.E.M.
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Publish on Substack Get the app
Substack is the home for great writing