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Litany by Billy Collins. Youtube videos of Collins reading this. And a 3 year old reading it

By Anita Mathias


Litany

BY BILLY COLLINS
You are the bread and the knife,
The crystal goblet and the wine . . .
Jacques Crickillon 
You are the bread and the knife,   
the crystal goblet and the wine.   
You are the dew on the morning grass   
and the burning wheel of the sun.   
You are the white apron of the baker   
and the marsh birds suddenly in flight.   


However, you are not the wind in the orchard,   
the plums on the counter,   
or the house of cards.   
And you are certainly not the pine-scented air.   
There is just no way you are the pine-scented air.   


It is possible that you are the fish under the bridge,   
maybe even the pigeon on the general’s head,   
but you are not even close   
to being the field of cornflowers at dusk.   


And a quick look in the mirror will show   
that you are neither the boots in the corner   
nor the boat asleep in its boathouse.   


It might interest you to know,   
speaking of the plentiful imagery of the world,   
that I am the sound of rain on the roof.   


I also happen to be the shooting star,   
the evening paper blowing down an alley,   
and the basket of chestnuts on the kitchen table.   


I am also the moon in the trees   
and the blind woman’s tea cup.   
But don’t worry, I am not the bread and the knife.   
You are still the bread and the knife.   
You will always be the bread and the knife,
not to mention the crystal goblet and—somehow—the wine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVu4Me_n91Y
A three year old recites this poem.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56Iq3PbSWZY
Billy Collins recites his own poem.

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Anita Mathias: About Me

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My Books

Wandering Between Two Worlds: Essays on Faith and Art

Wandering Between Two Worlds - Amazon.com
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Francesco, Artist of Florence: The Man Who Gave Too Much

Francesco, Artist of Florence - Amazom.com
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The Story of Dirk Willems

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Premier Digital Awards 2015 - Finalist - Blogger of the year
Runner Up Christian Media Awards 2014 - Tweeter of the year

Recent Posts

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  • A Mind of Life and Peace in the Middle of a Global Pandemic
  • On Yoga and Following Jesus
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  • Life- Changing Journaling: A Gratitude Journal, and Habit-Tracker, with Food and Exercise Logs, Time Sheets, a Bullet Journal, Goal Sheets and a Planner
  • On Loving That Which Love You Back
  • “An Autobiography in Five Chapters” and Avoiding Habitual Holes  
  • Shining Faith in Action: Dirk Willems on the Ice
  • The Story of Dirk Willems: The Man who Died to Save His Enemy

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Fierce Attachments: A Memoir
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Wanderlust
Rebecca Solnit

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Acedia & me: A Marriage, Monks, and a Writer's Life
Kathleen Norris

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Opened Ground: Poems, 1966-96
Seamus Heaney

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