Ah, Scott Cairns, this is a beautiful poem, beyond amazement! I truly cannot praise it enough. Can you send it to another publishing outlet, so that more readers may experience it? It might rock someone so much that they would publish it instantly.

The quiet, sympathetic tone; the effective understatement, as in the passage that tells the recipient, in regard to Holy Lent, season of personal reflection, "You should give it a try." is moving because casual, especially as the speaker includes himself among the many self examiners. Then, the respectful climax of the poem: "Do you wish to be healed?" The address, "Broken sir," the prayer, in spite of the addressee, in some hope that he might "be drawn to the trembling waters." The active waters, perfect.

What you have wrought! Our Country needs to read this. The President needs to read this.

Thank you for this poem and for your inspiration. Wholeheartedly,

Sandra