Through the great Poet's Republic I have been lucky enough to meet Harry Smart and become acquainted with him. Harry was born in Yorkshire and lives now in Montrose. He has a doctorate in Geography and a degree in art, has been a lay preacher and is a committed Christian. He also has three collections published by Faber. His poetry, it seems to me, is an aching and exhaustive search into human character and faith.
Harry's website is here, it has poetry and essays.
http://www.harrysmart.com/write/poetry_top.html
Praise
Praise be to God, who pities wankers
and has mercy on miserable bastards.
Praise be to God, who pours out his blessing
on reactionary warheads and racists.
For he knows what he is doing; the healthy
have no need of a doctor, the sinless
have no need of forgiveness. But, you say,
They do not deserve it. That's the point;
that is the point. When you try to wade
across the estuary at low tide but misjudge
the distance, the currents, the soft ground
and are caught by the flood in deep schtuck,
then perhaps you will realise that God is to be praised
for delivering dickheads
from troubles they have made for themselves.
Praise be to God, who forgives sinners.
Let him who is without sin throw the first headline.
Let him who is without sin build the gallows
prepare the noose, say farewell
to the convict with a kiss.
across the estuary at low tide but misjudge
the distance, the currents, the soft ground
and are caught by the flood in deep schtuck,
then perhaps you will realise that God is to be praised
for delivering dickheads
from troubles they have made for themselves.
Praise be to God, who forgives sinners.
Let him who is without sin throw the first headline.
Let him who is without sin build the gallows
prepare the noose, say farewell
to the convict with a kiss.
No comments:
Post a Comment