The Statue of the Virgin at Granard Square Speaks: quotes Flashcards
It can be ______ here at ______ like this,
It can be bitter here at times like this,
The _______ won’t let up. Trees
______ in agony as if they would be _____
and _____off —
The howling won’t let up. Trees
cavort in agony as if they would be free
and take off —
Closer to home the wind sails over
______ lakes. I hear fish ________
Closer to home the wind sails over
dying lakes. I hear fish drowning
I taste the _______ water mingled
with ____ ______ from outlying farms.
I taste the stagnant water mingled
with turf smoke from outlying farms.
They kneel before me and their ______-
fly up like _____ from a bonfire
that _____ a ________, then ____ out.
They kneel before me and their prayers
fly up like sparks from a bonfire
that blaze a moment, then wink out.
I would not be amazed if every ______ came risen
from the graveyard to join in __________ with the gale,
a ________ of bone imploring sky for ________
and release from being the _________ of the town.
I would not be amazed if every corpse came risen
from the graveyard to join in exaltation with the gale,
a cacophony of bone imploring sky for judgement
and release from being the conscience of the town.
On a night like this I remember the _____
who came with ________ summers to her name,
and she lay down _____ at my feet
without ________ or ______ or friend to hold her _____
and she pushed her ______ out into the night,
On a night like this I remember the child
who came with fifteen summers to her name,
and she lay down alone at my feet
without midwife or doctor or friend to hold her hand
and she pushed her secret out into the night,
far from the town tucked up in little _______,
________ struck, words _______, prayers, ________,
far from the town tucked up in little scandals,
bargains struck, words broken, prayers, promises,
though she cried out to me in ________
I did not _____,
I didn’t lift a ______ to help her,
though she cried out to me in extremis
I did not move,
I didn’t lift a finger to help her,
I did not move,
I didn’t lift a finger to help her,
I didn’t ________ with heaven,
nor ______ the charmed word in _____ ear.
I did not move,
I didn’t lift a finger to help her,
I didn’t intercede with heaven,
nor whisper the charmed word in God’s ear.
On a night like this I number the days to the _______
and the turn back to the _____.
On a night like this I number the days to the solstice
and the turn back to the light.
O ____,
centre of our _______ ______,
________ heart of ______,
molten ______ of us all,
hear me and have _____.
O sun,
centre of our foolish dance,
burning heart of stone,
molten mother of us all,
hear me and have pity.
