(let my prayer be set forth in your sight as incense
the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice)

grey and greased dishwater
late, last thing – the whole day
and nothing
sanctified

passive voice & junk mail
how I wish like David I could
call down curses

or wish
for a string to strike

or a note to raise in me
some resonance

grey and greased and dull fatigue
couch crumbed, mindless TV

even sleep held under
a skim of chemicals

sleep your great benediction
your pulsing tug out of the body
      and in
and out – prayer
as a kind of drowsing

from the fry pan I lift
my hands
           dripping like hyssop

***
Psalm 141

(The title is Ps 141:2 NKJV)