Litany

This poem and this little boy have been stuck in my head for the past few days- let the lovely words shrouded in his precious innocence sink in- enjoy :)


Three year old boy reciting "Litany" by Billy Collins

LITANY

by Billy Collins

You are the bread and knife,

the crystal goblet and the wine.

You are the dew on the morning grass

and the burning wheel of the sun.

You are the white apron of the baker,

and the marsh birds suddenly in flight.

However you are not the wind in the orchard,

the plums on the counter,

or the house of cards.

And you are certainly nit the pine-scented air,

there is just no way that you are the pine-scented air.

it is possible that you are the fish under the bridge,

maybe even the pigeon on the general's head,

but you are not even close

to being the field of cornflowers at dusk.

And a quick look in the mirror will show

that you are neither the boots in the corner

nor the boat asleep in its boat house.

It might interest you know,

speaking of the plentiful imagery of the world,

that I am the sound of rain on the roof.

I also happen to be the shooting star,

the evening paper floating down an alley,

and the basket of chestnuts on the kitchen table.

I am also the moon in the trees

and the blind woman's tea cup.

Bot don't worry, I'm not the bread and the knife.

You are still the bread and the knife.

You will always be the bread and the knife,

not to mention, the crystal goblet and--somehow--the wine.