Praying Poem by Jacques Fleury

[Originally published in Fleury's Boston Globe featured poetry book: 'Sparks in the Dark: A Lighter Shade of Blue, A Poetic Memoir' & republished in 'God Anthology' by Cooch Behar Books in Cooch Behar, India

Dear God,



I am faced with a dilemma.

Sun streaked feathers have gathered at my feet.

They are too perfect for my kind and I fear

Taking a step forward and risk wrinkling them.

There are enough wrinkles in the world.

Daggers have replaced my tongue and

I am irate enough to hurl from my crooked lips sharps

Attired in danger of utter dissatisfaction envying all this perfection.

Words like a snivel retaliating against the wonderful silence of angels…

An imperial silence that puts lions to sleep and

Replaces the clatter of wars.

Words like gunshots darting from my mouth to inflict

The hurt that's been inflicted upon me!

But there are enough shootings in the world,

Besides, an eye for an eye leaves everybody blind.

Do I risk causing any dents in the round perfect moon

Because I'm having a bad day?

I know I will always walk in your shadow God.

So please help me befriend the fact that we are all condemned

To walk with a limp because of, you know, the 'tragedy'.

And so I pray,

For my sin of envy,

For making earthly perfection my enemy.

For God created the earth and that should be enough to bring me mirth.

I need to make peace with my dearth.

And so I pray,

To break away,

From my irrationality and accept my misery!

Besides, it's only part of me, not all of me.

There's enough beauty in me to cause constancy

To you God and your earth and cherish my porous soul.

God please answer my prayers.

Help me accept the 'tragedy' of

Adam and Eve.

--Jacques Fleury