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Prayer

Prayer

by Helen Humphreys

Nothing holds its truth for long enough.

Not our words, or our desires, our small fidelities

to our small fires — what we have loved on this earth and in one another.

By the time the light at the window can be named

it has already shifted. Words collapse. The place is in ruins.

Love spools out to vapour.

Home leaves us, not the other way around.

We don't reside. We just touch down.

But what was once true remains so, and although we must leave

everything, it is possible to return to what was sanctuary —

to enter the building, or the concert hall, or the act of love —

to see again the field of bright flowers — to open the book.

It is possible to return to what was sanctuary,

and find our shelter there.

About this Poem

Helen Humphreys read her previously unpublished poem “Prayer” before Kingston City Council on Tuesday 19 April 2016, in recognition of National Poetry Month and as part of this year’s Mayor’s Poetry City Challenge

About the Poetry Blackboard

The Poetry Blackboard showcases poems curated by Kingston's Poet Laureate and written by Kingston poets. There's a new poem every month, written by poets living and dead, historical and contemporary, published and unpublished, adults and children, giving full range to the cultural voice of Kingston. Started in 2015 by Helen Humphreys, the Poetry Blackboard has been continued since 2019 by Jason Heroux.

We wish to thank Helen Humphreys, Kingston's second Poet Laureate, for her generous support of emerging and established poets in Kingston through library programming and our Poetry Blackboard project. Throughout her four years as Poet Laureate, Helen curated a digital collection of poetry to showcase the talents of local creators of all ages, both historic and contemporary. Helen also offered several opportunities for emerging poets to develop their craft, offering group workshops and one-on-one mentorship. Her active engagement with the library and community has been greatly appreciated.

In 2019 we welcomed the incoming Poet Laureate, Jason Heroux, who continues to curate the Poetry Blackboard and to develop new community programming.

Previously Published Poems