Prayer

Prayer

 

I sat in the congregation

Waiting for the preacher to start

He sat in his seat behind the pulpit

Looking out at nothing in particular

Watching for some intent

From one or all of us that sat waiting

 

A bulletin had been given out

Explaining what was to happen

During the sermon, that is

The matter at hand was gossip

The intent to confront the sin

To bring about a just end

 

A study had started to relieve the pain

Each one of the members

Seemed to have more than the true word

At heart

Why had Margaret decided to date?

So soon after her husband had departed?

 

Did Johnny who-ever really care?

That the word was out on how he felt

Or was the secretary really in charge of

Church matters, like the young Christians thought

Or did the preacher really have a message to share.

 

Has God forgotten us now?

Or was he to busy to see our worth

I was nine years old when God came to me

He lifted me up and I felt the warmth of being

A cradle of love so tight that I lost my breath

Never had anyone given me that joy of being

 

Here I sat in a congregation of doubt

People wondering why they came

A minister hoping the message he will give

Is coming from God

And not a whim of his own self domain

Failing to lead or give direction

 

Men and women sit side by side

As families often do

Teenage children sit last pew in

Counting the seconds till release

Never thinking a Christian thought

Making small talk to a friend

 

Bobby-sue was dressed prim and proper

Her face lit with innocence a smile to defeat

The wondering looks from boys all-round

She would be thirteen her next birthday

In her parents eyes she would always be ten

What she felt from within

 

I sat in a congregation of doubt

Little could I understand my own concern?

Was it Bobby-sue or Johnny that I thought about?

Or the reason for my doubt

I wanted to tell my pastor to STOP!

Talk to me about my passions of thought

 

Somewhere in the words that came

I stood up and left the church

I needed to feel the Lord God that day

All I got was, was prayer in me to stay

God Bless you the reader now

Give thanks that you can talk with him each day

Reviews

[Dayran]

Incredible! After lifting you up at nine, he must have decided to give you voice to speak on this day in his house of prayer. Your passions certainly captured the life of the community as you all came together to hear him. Or perhaps he was out water skiing, knowing that all's well, but the Bard would still have a thing or two to say about that. Great poem.

[Ken Simm.]

I think this would have worked with just the first verse never mind the rest of this superbly atmospheric prose.