Prayer

Marjorie Lotfi reads, 'Prayer' by John Burnside. Part of our series of poetry films in collaboration with the Adrian Brinkerhoff Foundation. The film is directed by Savannah Acquah.

22nd May 2025

Prayer

by John Burnside

Give me a little less
with every dawn:
colour, a breath of wind,
the perfection of shadows,

till what I find, I find
because it’s there,
gold in the seams of my hands
and the night light, burning.

‘Prayer’ by John Burnside
(Copyright © John Burnside, 2007)
Reproduced by permission of A.M. Heath
on behalf of the estate of John Burnside.

Marjorie Lotfi

Marjorie Lotfi

Marjorie Lotfi is a poet, essayist and memoirist.