20th of May 2020

Psalm Eighty-Eight Blues

Lord, when I’m speechless

when something – not just sorrow

but under that – a dull, numb, nameless dreich

about the heart I hardly seem to have,

when this afflicts me,

when hope’s been cancelled,

when the pilot light of me’s put out,

when every reflex and response

has been extinguished,

send word, snowdrop, child, light.                                              

                                          Diana Hendry 

From ‘Tools of the Trade’ - Poems for New Doctors edited by Dr Lesley Morrison, Dr John Gillies and Rev Ali Newell