Prayer

PRAYER

What if it never works?
What if things stay the same?
What if the voice that kills and lies
Leaves the other voice weak and lame?

What’ll become of me?
What’ll become of them?
What’ll become of Hope and Love and
Peace and Goodness then?

Who’ll be left in charge?
Who will protect the innocent?
Who, among us, will rise above,
Fearless and beneficent?

What will the earth look like?
Cold and spinning satellite.
What noise will the wind become?
Screaming and shrill through the night…

I say, Let it work.
I say, Let it fail.
I say, in the end, the choice is small,
I either win, or I cry and wail.

And prayer is not black magic.
Prayer isn’t making deals.
So, I don’t know what exactly prayer is,
But I know what it ain’t; and it feels

Like talking.
Not begging.

-par
5 2010