A poem I wrote in college on prayer

Praying and Doing

I’m no front porch Jane
Watching horizons fade and dip to black
Putting the lights out again
Praying for grandchildren, neighbors, my cat
Routine-driven words to Heaven
Again and again by bedside
Knees flat and hands clasped
Don’t you dare open an eye—
God won’t hear you then

I pray on my back
Hands stretched high
Sometimes desperate
I shout
Now I lay me down to sleep
I pray, Oh Lord, don’t keep my soul--
Push my soul, send my soul
I don’t want to be comfortable

We lie still on bleeding knees, not blinking
Too long in one position
Just talking and waiting, not moving
Waiting for revival
Waiting for a change
Waiting and shaking heads
Predictable as little dolls
with artificial folded hands
What has the world come to?
Unanswered we fall asleep

Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done
Come quick and
fix this rush of pain
Wrench of deep-laden anguish
Remedy needs of broken souls
Get me up right off my knees
Send me running straight with faith
To help a world half-dead
I don’t want to wait and sit
in position
just still
not doing