Present (Wendy Cope)

On the flyleaf
of my confirmation present:
‘To Wendy with love
from Nanna. Psalm 98.’

I looked it up, eventually –
Cantate Domino
I knew the first two verses
and skimmed the rest.

Thirty-five years afterwards,
at evensong on Day 19
the choir sings Nanna’s psalm.
At last, I pay attention

to the words she chose.
O sing unto the Lord
a new song. Nanna,
it is just what I wanted.