Poetry Corner In Praise of Air

Tomorrow Thursday 20th June is National Clean Air Day in the UK, a time for reflection?

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In praise of Air 

“I write in praise of air. I was six or five

when a conjurer opened my knotted fist

and I held in my palm the whole of the sky.

I’ve carried it with me ever since.

Let air be a major god, its being

and touch, its breast-milk always tilted

to the lips. Both dragonfly and Boeing

dangle in its see-through nothingness…

Among the jumbled bric-a-brac I keep

a padlocked treasure-chest of empty space

and on days when thoughts are fuddled with smog

or civilization crosses the street

with a white handkerchief over its mouth

and cars blow kisses to our lips from theirs

I turn the key, throw back the lid, breathe deep.

My first word, everyone’s first word, was air.”

Written by Simon Armitage

1 reply »

  1. Instead of ‘let air be a major god’ how about ‘let air be God’s major gift’ or if the writer does not believe or wants to be quieter, how about ‘let air be a major gift’.

    Lovely poem =)

    A major gift xxx

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