Man at Prayer


This week’s poem in the Catholic Poetry Room is by Alan Altany.

Man at Prayer

As the new dawn’s sunlight
became stained glass windows,
an old man in a church pew
was bent over in prayer,
almost crumpled in a low heap,
head bent down in worship
at the time of Communion.
A long life became a moment
of innocent public intimacy
in the mystery of his saintly
and sinner’s supplication
on a Sunday morning
this near side of eternity.
Without embarrassment,
with singular piety,
this particular man
gratefully surrenders
to his God
as billions have done
uniquely.


Alan Altany, Ph.D., is a septuagenarian college professor of religious studies. He’s been a factory worker, swineherd on a farm, hotel clerk, lawn maintenance worker, small magazine of poetry editor, director of religious education for churches, truck driver, director of university professional faculty development centers, novelist, etc. He published a book of poetry in 2022 entitled A Beautiful Absurdity: Christian Poetry of the Sacred. His website is at https://www.alanaltany.com.

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