Title: Guilty Spaces

Author: James Brown

In: Sport 28: Autumn 2002

Publication details: Fergus Barrowman, March 2002, Wellington

Part of: Sport

Keywords: Verse Literature

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Sport 28: Autumn 2002

Guilty Spaces

page 64

Guilty Spaces

There are a lot of things going down
in the world right now—both good and bad—
but not a lot going down down here, Lord,
sure as I am sitting here writing this
and sure as you are sitting up there reading it
(as I know you to be doing).
But that is not to say
that a lot of things haven't happened, Lord,
that all the easy times have been nice quiet drunks,
or that a lot of things don't continue to happen,
sometimes at the stroke of a pen, oh God,
or that a lot of things won't go right on a-happening
out there beyond what it is our understanding to know.
What I am saying, Chief—with respect that you've maybe
had yourself cause to glance in my direction before—is that
this time I am truly fully sorry for all the trouble
that I know I have maybe caused.
I know it's no blame use trying to take things back,
but working hard like I done most all my life
never seems to have helped me any, and those times
sitting round idling with Old Hob ain't ended up
no Christmas neither. So what I am saying, Lord, is that
I now know I need your help to get the black Jack
out my hand for once and for all. I need you
to show me the way of accension into your house.
It ain't no use me gambling on myself.
This time I have taken the decision for real.
Lord, I just need your forgiveness and guidance
and the bounty of your ever-loving hand
to ensure safe passage. $5 oughta do it.