the same time zone…

these are not
discrete points
this year
from
the next
nor
from
the one
that preceded
they are
a continuum
of
war
hatred
and
greed
and
prayers
prayers
that
have no
endings
nor
answers
we pretend
for
a brief moment
celebrating
with
wine
and
kisses
that
what is coming
will be
different
a temporal oasis
an oasis
surrounded
by
the same desert
we were
just
wandering through
and
must
now
re-enter

soulless…

when
all
your dreams
have vanished
in
the night
how will you
wake
from
the deep sleep
of
your despair
will you
offer up a prayer
as
morning doves
warn
you
of
the coming
of
the new day
or
will you merely
melt
into edges
of
your fears
never
to rise
again

 

 

law of cruelty…

hate clings to our souls
refusing to be dislodged
prayers relieve the pain
but it still remains inside
it’s existence’s parasite

 

 

on child rearing…

now
i ain’t trying
to
tell you
how to raise
your child
lord knows
i’ve always
supported
whatever 
you’ve done
even when
you were dating
that
butt ugly
hospital vp
i stood by your side
but
i couldn’t help
but
overhear
how you were
teaching
your child
how to say
prayers
so please forgive me
this one time
but child
that line about
if i die
before i wake
surely is going to keep
that child
awake
i mean
who in the hell
would want to close
their eyes
with that threat
of
dying
hanging over
your
bed
forget
what’s under
it
it’s what’s waiting
when you
close your eyes
that
would make you
wet the bed
not the monster
in
your head
not even
with
the light on
would
anyone
want to sleep
so maybe
you want to repeat
some prayer
about
how god cares
and
shares angels
to
protect you
throughout
the night
that would
surely
take care
of
most
of the night’s
frights

 

 

a poor man’s petition…

now lord
why don’t you
show
some heart
and
keep my friends
from
falling apart
ain’t asking much
like raising
the dead and such
just asking
for
a little mercy
can’t stand to see
my friends
falling apart
so
why not
show some
of
that divine
heart
and keep them
and
pain
apart

now i lay me down to sleep…

when the lights
go out
childhood fears
re-emerge
shadows
become 
demons
hurried
whispered words
to god
to
renew
youth’s contract

 

 

divine intervention…

those of you
expecting
god
to intervene
on
your behalf
during
a personal crisis
or
protect you
from
harm’s way
such as
floods
poverty
or
viruses
please note
that
your prayers
have been
duly
noted
registered
and
certified
as
sincere
however
please recall
that
there is
a restraining order
in place
so
we’ll
not be able
to
perform
the
requested
actions
on earth
until
judgment day
thanks
for
your patience

 

 

hissy fit….

oh my lord
what a barge
of bombastic words
child
i ain’t never heard
anything like it
laying out
the sins
of
others
on the altar
of
shame
before god
and
everybody
not
one
eardrum
was spared
now
it may have been
for their own good
cause
there was
the asking for forgiveness
but
i thought
it was just 
a closing prayer

 

 

they grasp at straws…

parched
for
a taste
of
hope
humans
will consume
poisonous lies
or
even
swear
a mirage
is
real
long before
the madness
has
set in
others
will take
the sacrament
of
sports
where
nothing
has
a consecrated element
just
gladiators and lions
to
distract
their minds
away from
what
they
truly
thirst for
some
tangible
answer
to
their prayers

 

 

even when…

his prayers
never
saved
a single soul
nor
kept death
from
the doors
of
those he loved
his
devotions
to
the divine
were
his hopes
offered
to
his
beliefs
not
to
any one god
just
a simple contract
with 
himself
so as
to
have a reason
for
awakening