文章基本信息

A Calling

Merwin, W S

A Calling

My father is telling me the story of Samuel

not for the first time and yet he is not quite repeating

nor rehearsing nor insisting he goes on telling me

in the empty green church smelling of carpet and late dust

where he calls to mind words of the prophets to mumble in a remote

language

and the prophets are quoting the Lord who is someone they know

who has been talking to them my father tells what the Lord

said to them and Samuel listened and heard someone calling someone

and Samuel answered Here I am and my father is saying

that is the answer that should be given he is telling me

that someone is calling and that is the right answer

he is telling me a story he wants me to believe

telling me the right answer and the way it was spoken

in that story he wants to believe in which someone is calling