A Woman’s Prayer Paulineprior-pitt

Born in Hull, Pauline Prior-pitt moved to North Uist in 1997. Her poetry often looks at aspects of being a woman (see below), grandchildren, and living on Uist, with all topics well catered for on her latest collection,

Be An Angel: Selected Poems 1987 – 2017 (Longstone Books, £10). Many readers, male and female, will sympathise with Prior-pitt’s cri de coeur for who, even the most loving and patient of us, hasn’t wanted a bit of a break from the rest of the family?

Oh Lord! Grant me one whole day in the house alone, a day from before dawn until after sunset, a day from morning until evening or from after breakfast until dinner time. No, no, cancel that, thinking about dinner will ruin the day. Grant me one whole day to be master of the house. Not mistress; master of the house, all day. Well Lord! It’s hard to explain the difference it makes, the tidiness stays tidy, meals are taken lightly, but it’s more than that. Alone is separate, spacious. I may do everything. I may do nothing. Limitless hours of possibility release the day. Oh Lord! On second thoughts, grant me two whole days in the house alone. You can find a copy of Be An Angel: Selected Poems 1987 – 2017 by Pauline Prior-pitt at the Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Edinburgh EH8 8DT. For poetry enquiries, e-mail reception@spl.org.uk or visit www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk