Dawn
summoned the man
to prayer So he kneeled
before his lord and asked
for mercy. The lord did not
respond but still the man
prayed.
He prayed for guidance.
And support. For the wis-
dom of the highest court
He prayed for money, jewels,
Riches and power. He prayed
on the hour Every hour. And
sometimes in between, too. He
prayed through war and famine
Through revolution and the coming
of Spring. He prayed for peace and
order and for the lord to restore the
world’s faith, but he did not listen.
And when his Son was thrown in
prison, he prayed for freedom and justice
and begged once more for mercy. When his wife fell
ill and lay on death’s doorstep, he prayed for a miracle
but received none And now he prays alone To a lord cruel
and distant ‘Why do you treat me so?’ he says, ‘Have I not
done all that you ask?’ He listens to the silence and hears his
answer So the man kneels one last time. And prays for death