The Overheard Prayer #2

now that encyclopedias and envelopes and ink

and swords and shields and wars

and maps of east germany

mock my uselessness

from the shelves

from the walls

i

now that i’m the leaf without a stem

the fire out of air

a leaf on fire

without

please

now that You are in Your arms

in her arms

in his arms

not in my

arms

You

now that I join those that i’ve hated

the man of Your past

who also hated me

and each other

and those that

come after me

in a strange

fellowship

i

the archives in Your heart

have become heavier

insignificantly

please

now that i am out of my good metaphors

out of my endless disbelief

out of my great lies

and my greater

excuses

You

i

please

You.