Michael Foley
Psalm
Unworthy, Lord, mired in iniquity (I use the Disabled Toilet
handbasin in work as a bidet), I come, craven, shamefaced,
to beg that you deliver me from aridity of spirit and restore
my old demonic zest. For my love has just confessed that
this was what made her wet. Therefore hear the voice of my
supplications. Quicken me with deviance. Let mordant mockery
dance in my eyes and a patina of irony lustre my words,
let me seem to float on rebel angel wings above the world,
pouring scorn on its shibboleths and idols of clay ... but also
unearthing obscure excellence. I was prince of espousals
too once. Lord, the ferocity of those young enthusiasms
– almost as good as contempt for alarming the dull.
handbasin in work as a bidet), I come, craven, shamefaced,
to beg that you deliver me from aridity of spirit and restore
my old demonic zest. For my love has just confessed that
this was what made her wet. Therefore hear the voice of my
supplications. Quicken me with deviance. Let mordant mockery
dance in my eyes and a patina of irony lustre my words,
let me seem to float on rebel angel wings above the world,
pouring scorn on its shibboleths and idols of clay ... but also
unearthing obscure excellence. I was prince of espousals
too once. Lord, the ferocity of those young enthusiasms
– almost as good as contempt for alarming the dull.
Michael Foley has published four novels, three collections of poetry and a collection of translations of French poetry. A new collection, Autumn Beguiles the Fatalist, is due from Blackstaff Press in late 2005 or early 2006.
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