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60th Virtual Poetry Circle

Welcome to the 60th Virtual Circle!

Remember, this is just for fun and is not meant to be stressful.

Keep in mind what Molly Peacock’s books suggested. Look at a line, a stanza, sentences, and images; describe what you like or don’t like; and offer an opinion. If you missed my review of her book, check it out here.

Today’s contemporary poet is Diane Ackerman.

School Prayer

In the name of the daybreak
and the eyelids of morning
and the wayfaring moon
and the night when it departs,

I swear I will not dishonor
my soul with hatred,
but offer myself humbly
as a guardian of nature,
as a healer of misery,
as a messenger of wonder,
as an architect of peace.

In the name of the sun and its mirrors
and the day that embraces it
and the cloud veils drawn over it
and the uttermost night
and the male and the female
and the plants bursting with seed
and the crowning seasons
of the firefly and the apple,

I will honor all life
—wherever and in whatever form
it may dwell—on Earth my home,
and in the mansions of the stars.

Let me know your thoughts, ideas, feelings, impressions. Let’s have a great discussion…pick a line, pick an image, pick a sentence.

I’ve you missed the other Virtual Poetry Circles. It’s never too late to join the discussion.

Comments

  1. I’m intrigued by the title, especially given that school prayer is such a controversial topic in public schools. I really love the sentiment in the poem, and its very reminiscent of the Buddhist way of living.

  2. What a beautiful poem! Sounds like a way we all should live. It’s hard to pick out any one line as my favorite because I really liked all of this poem.

  3. the bookworm says

    Its beautiful. I especially like:
    I swear I will not dishonor
    my soul with hatred,
    but offer myself humbly
    as a guardian of nature,
    as a healer of misery,
    as a messenger of wonder,
    as an architect of peace.

  4. A school poem for a teacher. I especially like the stanzas I swear I will not dishonor–and an architect of peace. The word architect is a great verb. The firefly I believe refers to the teacher being an illuminating yet humble .