Poems & Prayers

“Forgive me I’m sorry”

In this prayer, the first-person speaker asks God for forgiveness. He apologizes for being a “repeat offender” (Line 4) and a “certified transgressor” (Line 6). However, he offers up the fact that he feels guilty about this lamentable condition as a basis for being forgiven: He “give[s] a damn” (Line 2), which is a necessary condition for divine grace. 

“Forgive Me Father for I Know What I Do”

The theme is similar to that of “Forgive me I’m sorry,” but it is explored at greater length. The speaker contrasts his aspirations with the nature of his being. While he wants to reject a life of comfort and ease in favor of metaphorical “stones in the field, / to make my road more rocky to plough” (Lines 7-8), or difficulties that will demand hard work and attention to detail, he is in reality a “wobbly glutton” (Line 13) who has “lost my compass in this haze” (Line 14). A difficult life may suit his ideal version of himself, but at the moment he has lost his way and has embraced greed and overindulgence. 

Nevertheless, even in his fallen state, he tries to “advertise” (Line 16) the ways of God with good intentions. Realizing that he is “sick with guilt from my presumption” (Line 18), he earnestly pleads for God to “please ground me Father fast” (Line 20), so he can face himself in the mirror. 

“The Other Day I Wrote God a Letter”

The titular letter is a plea for forgiveness; its writer is “trying” (Line 2). 

God’s reply is an approving image of a disheveled traveler who finally arrives to the divine: 

I would rather you arrive 

late to my house sweating, in a pair of 

runners and a hoodie, than arrive 

early elsewhere in a tuxedo (Lines 4-7). 

The metaphorical vision suggests that He is aware of how hard the speaker is working to improve so he can be more worthy of God. The traveler’s disarray shows that he has made great effort and has regarded himself little in the process; the “[sweat]” (Line 5) and “late” (Line 5) arrival indicate a panicked sort of run toward faith. In contrast, showing up elsewhere (that is, not God’s house) well-dressed symbolizes having only worldly concerns about appearances over genuine value. Unlike the self-effacing “runners and a hoodie” (Line 6) the affluent life in a “tuxedo” (Line 7) will not lead to God.  

“Until Now”

In this poem, the Christian concept of grace, or the loving forgiveness of the divine, is personified as a feminine entity who is always patient. But her patience is active rather than passive, as grace is always committed to her purpose and never forgets anything. Everything that has happened in the past, right up to now, has been part of a plan; nothing happens by accident. She acts with forward momentum: “Pressing on with urgency, / she always keeps her vow” (Lines 5-6). 

The last two lines, “Knowing every day is the longest time, / and forever was until now” (Lines 7-8) evoke the human experience of seemingly interminable struggle and suffering, while suggesting that grace is available even “now” (Line 8). 

“Amen”

This prayer-like poem is about how to achieve a more spiritual life. The key condition is knowing “[w]hen responsibility becomes devotion” (Line 1); the advantages of belief that the poem lays out are presaged on this. The idea is that when a person develops a sense of responsibility and decides to devote themselves to a life of grace, various transformations follow: a sense of liberty as “freedom hears your voice” (Line 4), the ability to enjoy solitude for the rest and restoration it offers, and access to hope and grace as “divinity serves you blessed” (Line 8). 

“Dear God” 

The poem is a prayer for God’s grace. The speaker is overwhelmed by “carnal desires” (Line 1); he desperately wants to overcome them so he can hear the call of God. He feels lost and blind and doesn’t know where to turn. 

The speaker longs for a relationship with the divine that is transactional: a deal that does not involve the devil. He wants to regain his “anonymous soul” (Line 13)—a line that carries several meanings. For a speaker intended to be universal, the “anonymity” of the soul is a negative thing: In his current condition, his soul is unknown to him. However, if we read the poem as autobiographical, the “anonymous soul” (Line 13) is potentially positive—an existence away from the demands and temptations of fame that accompany the life of a famous actor. The imagery of deal-making continues as the speaker promises to pay any cost to get closer to God. 

The speaker ends by asking to see God in his own reflection; he acknowledges that this kind of intimate relationship with God is only possible for someone who has learned to exercise self-control.  

“To My Friend the Rain” 

This ode praising the rain uses apostrophe, or direct address to a nonhuman entity or object as if it were a sentient being. As the speaker listens to the sound of the falling rain, it relaxes him, softens his ambitions, and allows him to hear the deeper parts of himself. He thanks the rain for this welcome benefit. The rain reminds him that the world is fickle, frequently changing in its moods and affections.  

“In Spite Of” 

The speaker prays for God to allow him to pass on to others the divine grace he has received. The speaker knows he must be generous, passing on what he has, and humble, always remembering that he is not worthy of the gift he received. The speaker wants to embody the humility Christianity preaches: the knowledge that everything he receives is by the grace of God, not due to any worthiness on his part or effort he might make.