God's Shadow-For Contest
GOD’S SHADOW/for contest
There were prayers – hollow, empty – prayers.
Oh, the hands were folded, heads bowed,
voices muffled in saint-like submission,
reverberating the words – following
as children do - just a little behind.
Prayers of supplication, beseeching forgiveness
for the unimaginable sin of being born – in sin.
Humble prayers of thanks that “we” were not like “them”,
that “we” would be saved by this God of unconditional
and unreciprocated love.
We prayed “in the shadow of the church”, literally
its twin spires towering above us, we prayed in
the “belly of the beast” – bright, shiny, gold, frankincense,
and murmurs of a past. Silenced before the idled saints
frozen in eternal heavenward gestures.
I hid the child, protected him, allowed him time
to find peace with himself, to learn to trust
in the beauty of a flower, touch the truth in
solemn strength of twisted Elm, hear the
near soundless song of the flowing river.
Upon awakening, we joined souls and prayed.
Giving thanks for the strength that held us as one,
the tenacity to continue to live, courage to know
there is a “god” and we are one.
I am the shadow of that “god”.
John G. Lawless
5/18/2015
submitted to – Prayertime Memories – Poetry Contest
sponsor – Isaiah Zerbst
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