Say A Prayer

Say a prayer for me because I struggle with myself.
Say a prayer for yourself because you too struggle.
Say a prayer for your neighbor because it's been hard
and her job may not be there tomorrow.
Say a prayer for your co-worker because
their brother is dying.
Say a prayer quietly.
Say a wordless prayer in your mind.
Say a prayer for everyone.
Say a prayer for no one.
Say a prayer if you carry the faith.
Say a prayer if you are faithless.
Say a prayer because it is the secret hope
that our hearts carry.
Say a prayer because there is always
something to be prayed for.
Say a prayer because life
is an unceasing place of hardship and joy.
Say a prayer because you live.
Say a prayer because you are dying.
Say a prayer because you will one day
be among the dead.
Say a prayer and expect nothing.
Say a prayer because it's not what you would do.
Say a prayer because someone is listening.
Say a prayer because that someone is you.
Say a prayer because you'll ask a God
you don't believe in to be kind and merciful
to someone you love.
Say a prayer because you will know loss
and curse the idea of any kind of creator.
Say a prayer because you create
the world you wish to see.
Say a prayer for your siblings
and the ways you do not know each other.
Say a prayer because our infirmities
can only grow from here.
Say a prayer for peace.
Say a prayer that perhaps we will act
against the tide of history.
Say a prayer for our city, our state,
our country, our world.
Say a prayer because we are all we have
and this is the only home we'll know.