Say A Prayer Poem by Mark Heathcote

Say a prayer for the serpent.
Say a prayer for the thief.
Say a prayer for the gunman.
Say a prayer for the farmer, undefeated.
Bringing in the corn and laughing at the moon
And the crows
Say a prayer for the sweetheart.
Who'd rather have wealth?
Then a true love of her very own back home.
Say a prayer for the shepherd.
Who sleeps not far from an unmarked grave?
Pray for the sailor who will drown.
Like a cot death babe in a rocking cradle
Who'll never reach home?
But he will be ever remembered.
In those blankets of foam
When your soul is tipped out of balance
And crashes ashore like a vulture.
Hungry and tired, remember a better day.
Say a prayer for the likes of me.
Say a prayer for the loser who gets it together.
Say a prayer for me, won't you?
Even if all you want to do is let me go.
Say a prayer for the minstrel and the liar.
Say a prayer for me before you let go of my hand.
Say a prayer for me.
Say a prayer for me, and I'll run home with the jailer's key.
I'll be as good as gold.
Won't you be told?
Say a prayer for me, and I won't leave you.
I won't roam.
At least not too far from home not without a jailer's key
And a kiss from your crimson lips.