Putting out the prayer flags
Can’t pray any more, and so
I let the wind do the praying for me.
I have done with asking God
for favours I have not earned,
promising to be good hereafter.
God will listen to the wind.
I don’t expect the wind to ask for miracles,
only an easy passage for you,
my old ship
creaking out of harbour.
And the flags:
yellow, green, purple, red,
like a sailor’s pennant:
England expects every man.
Farewell, welcome home.
Ann Alexander has published three collections of poetry, Facing Demons and Nasty, British & Short from Peterloo and Too Close from Ward Wood. She lives in Cornwall.