MORNING PRAYER

The morning chill
Cold, hard like steel
Stinging like a wasp
Harsh on the old skin
He shivers…
Not only from the cold,
But from an empty belly too

He clutches his broom-
It feels familiar;
His companion every morning,
Sweeping the coarse street floor
The church bell chimes
Reminding the faithful
Of their dutiful morning prayer

He poses;
Takes a breathe
And faces the church
Bowing to the crucifix
Towering high
Glowing gold
Polished by the morning rays
He whispers a familiar prayer
An empty prayer
Void of a connection
With the deity who gives hope
An empty prayer
Resonating disillusionment
Smelling hopelessness
This Morning Prayer-
Brings no hope
But raises fear;
Fear of passing time
A hollow dread;
A dread of the ticking clock…
A reminder of eternity
Unfulfilled dreams
Un-kept promises
A futile life lived…
Reminiscing the hungry days
Days of unanswered questions

Yet he offers his supplications;
Faithfully fulfilling his duty
Hoping for redemption:
From the chains of self
Faithfully performing his chore
Silently sweeping
Wishing he could sweep away
The clutter in his life’s path,
A path course from trod
Filled with dirt of the past
And fulfill his destiny-even if for a day
As a man who prayed and lived!