Poem of the week : Memoriam For A Fallen Pear

Memoriam For A Fallen Pear

There’s a pear tree in a graveyard.
I sent a prayer into its branches
tied around the sounds from my soul
And waited for fruit to fall.

I was still,
and hoping beyond hope.

With my back flat on the earth
I began stretching my pockets with
prayers sent up by other people.

Maybe they hadn’t waited until the time was right
Or they didn’t know how to spot when a prayer is ripe or rotten.

I kept watch as long as I could.

Eventually my arms folded across my chest
Head still towards the heavens,
Sifting through the branches
Awaiting my omen.

Until I fell asleep

And fallen prayers rotted beside me.

Peter deGraft-Johnson is a hip-hop artist and broadcaster writing as The Repeat Beat Poet. His debut pamphlet Testaments to Life & Death will be published by Verve Poetry Press in February 2022. He is also the host of the Lunar Poetry Podcast.

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