While Praying... Poem by RIC BASTASA

he is in church
attending the Sunday Mass
trying to close his eyes
in solemn prayer

at the front row
three rows ahead of him
is the woman who defrauded him
in a land deal

(money is not that important
but the fraud pinches
his soul)

beside him is his debtor
who just arrived from Dubai
on a three-day tour
and he did not pay him
his debt for two years
now

now the question is:
how can he keep his peace
in the middle of his
mumbled prayers?

before God his traitors
and swindlers
sing their hymns