POEM

Little Blessing for My Floater

by Jeanne Murray Walker

After George Herbert

This tiny ruin in my eye, small
flaw in the fabric, little speck
of blood in the egg, deep chip
in the windshield, north star,
polestar, floater that doesn't
float, spot where my hand is not,
even when I'm looking at my hand,
little piton that nails every rock
I see, no matter if the picture
turns to sand, or sand to sea,
I embrace you, piece of absence
that reminds me what I will be,
all dark some day unless God
rescues me, oh speck
that might teach me yet to see.

This poem originally appeared in the November 2003 issue of Poetry.

November 2003 issue of Poetry Magazine

THIS ISSUE IS SOLD OUT

 Jeanne Murray Walker

Jeanne Murray Walker's sixth book, A Deed to Light (University of Illinois), will be out . . . MORE »

More Poems by Jeanne Murray Walker

Staying Power

Related

More Religion Poems

More Allusion Poems

More Metaphor Poems

Report a Problem