Chris Anderson Verse-Virtual 2016 August

August 2016

I live with my two dogs on the edge of the university research forest, where I walk everyday and think and pray. I have taught at Oregon State University since 1986 and have been a Catholic deacon since 1987. I have written a number of books, including two books of poetry. My second book of poems, THE NEXT THING ALWAYS BELONGS, was published in 2011 by Airlie Press. Please visit my website: http://deaconchrisanderson.com/

Now All My Prayers

Whenever I hear a White-Crowned Sparrow
singing in the grass along a road,
I think of Dan, who was surprised I knew.
That I could name it. Whenever I pray
the Fatima Prayer, at the end of a decade,
I think of Franz and his bitter critique. Of age,
really. Of necessity. Now all my prayers
are tainted. O my Jesus, forgive us our sins,
save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls
to heaven, especially those in most need
of thy mercy. Even in the summer,
when the hard rains come, ripping through
the canopy, we can suddenly find ourselves
scattering. Chilled to the bone.

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