I saw the risen Christ on Crosby beach.
He stood, stilled by all that we had done.

I prayed to the risen Christ on Crosby Beach,
anointed him with my Everyday Tesco Larger.
I asked him for peace for my soul.
He answered not, only stared at all that we had done.

His halo sank with the sun.
His cheeks rusted with the wind.
Fermenting seaweed and tanker oil perfumed,
the Christ risen on Crosby Beach.

I slept in his iron embrace.
I drowned in the salt ocean of tears
he wept as he understood all that we had done.

Photos by Mark Vesey. Poem by Kate Evans
Title ‘a prayer utters itself’ from Prayer by Carol Ann Duffy