Poet Carol Anne Duffy presents two different attitudes toward religion in her poems "Prayer" and "Confession." In “Prayer,” Duffy reflects on how, in the absence of organized religion, comfort can instead be found in ordinary, prosaic events. These generally insignificant experiences instead become a source of consolation for the strangers mentioned in the poem. These works also draw on the poet's memory of her childhood experience of the Catholic practice of confession. Apparently, Duffy found this form of devotion to be a frightening and repressive experience. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get Original Essay “Prayer” is a secular version of conventional religious prayer, written in the form of a sonnet. The poet seeks to convey the idea that people without religious faith can find comfort in ordinary, everyday experiences. Duffy speaks on behalf of the secular community and represents this group through the strangers of the poem: "a woman, a man, the tenant." Duffy also includes himself in this group, as shown by the use of the pronouns "we" and "us", demonstrating that this work was written in the poet's own voice. The absence of religion is mentioned in this poem through the expressions “although we cannot pray” and “although we are unfaithful”. Even if they cannot turn to religion for comfort in difficult times, people can find comfort in their memories and in appreciating the little things in life. There are references to these moments of consolation throughout the poem. A woman is relieved of her despair and “lifts her head from the sieve of her hands,” seeing the beauty of nature, “looking at the minis sung by a tree.” The awareness of the simple joy of being is offered to him as a “sudden gift”. This sequence has connotations of taking the woman to a better place, of bringing her relief at a time when she needed consolation. Duffy speaks of a man who “hears his youth in the distant Latin chant of a train.” Driven by the sounds, he is comforted by memories of his previous life, perhaps taking him back to a happier, more grounded time. The poet speaks of a tenant who is consoled by "first grade piano scales", perhaps played by their child who is learning the piano. Comfort is offered through this small daily event. Duffy refers to the importance of these moments when she writes about “that familiar pain,” the recognition of uncomfortable truths, that can happen to us “some nights” when we are most vulnerable to our own emotions. thoughts. The use of the anaphoric expressions “some days, some nights” conveys a sense of normalcy and the inevitability of this pain and fear; such a state is something we all experience at some point in our lives. This fear and unease is further reflected in the poem when Duffy speaks of the "outer darkness." This “darkness” could be interpreted as a metaphor for the “darker” aspects of life, the harsh realities. She creates a contrast in the next line with the more comforting “radio prayer” within. The security and familiarity of the “inner radio” suggests that familiar regularities and comforts like these help protect us from the “darkness” of the outside world. The poem ends with a verse rhyming with an extract from the maritime forecast, “Rockall”. Clever. Dog. Finistère. This wording.