Wednesday 16 May 2012

Morning Canticle




Written for The Voice Project's Singing the City


Morning Canticle


First light, as if for the first time
The postman rises
The baker rises
The doctor rises
The mother rises
The living rise
The dead rise

All rising and risen.
First light, as if for the first time
On the grass
On the streets
On the walls
On the clocks
On the living
On the dead.

All rising and risen
First light, as if for the first time
On the forehead
On the eyelid
On the mouth
In the throat
On the breathing
On the breathless

All rising and risen
First light, as if for the first time
On the firstborn
On first seeing
On first walking
On first running
On first speaking
On last speaking

All rising and risen
First light, as if for the first time
In this city
In this quarter
In this street
In this alley
In this backyard
In this stairwell


All rising and risen all light.