Today's poem is Annunciation by the Scottish poet Edwin Muir. This well-loved poem is widely available, e.g. here
The painting by Fra Angelico is also very well known, and seems to connect quite well with the images evoked by the poem.
Here's the prayer...
God whose Messenger met Mary,
As we recall this familiar, mysterious, unnerving encounter,
An extraordinary intervention into an ordinary day,
So the artist and the poet invite us to gaze deep into the eyes
Of those you send to us - angels in disguise perhaps -
And then to make our own response...
Help us have the courage to say, 'yes'
Amen
