Henry Stimpson

Prayer at 75

Be brief,
dear grief.
Please go away.
Why not today?

Useless rage,
unlatch your fetter.
Consider my age.
Don’t you know better?

Hey sadness,
make it snappy.
Banish darkness.
Let’s be happy. 

Mindless fear,
a dull knife
in my life,
make no home here.

Ancient desire,
I need your fire.
Come back, old joy.
I’m still a boy.

A Massachusetts resident, Henry Stimpson also writes nonfiction, roots for the Boston Celtics, and is a volunteer ESOL tutor for adults.  His poems have appeared in many publications, including Poet Lore, Rolling Stone, Delmarva Review, Third Wednesday, Atlanta Review, On the Seawall, Mad River Review, The New Criterion (forthcoming)and Lighten Up Online.