I Pray

By AL

I pray for the strength to endure tough times, while seeking inner peace.

I meditate using my 3rd eye, to soothe the inner beast.

I pray that Maat weighs in my favor, for all the good I’ve done.

I pray that karma will forgive me, and not prey upon my son.

I pray that when I take my last breath and my heart beats no more.

I pray I lived for a cause, that was worth dying for.

For what joy comes from a life that is hard to grasp, as if reaching for the wind?

So I pray that if I don’t get it right the first time, I can do it all over again!

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20 Comments

  1. Chelsea on September 11, 2023 at 4:50 PM

    Hi AL, Thanks for writing this poem and sharing it with the world! I think the list-like structure of “I pray” works well and is powerful. I particularly love these lines: “I pray that karma will forgive me, and not prey upon my son.” and “For what joy comes from a life that is hard to grasp, as if reaching for the wind?” Beautiful language here.

    I think your poem could gain a lot more power if you could be more specific. The less generic the language, the more impact a poem has, I feel. The line “…and not prey upon my son” is strong because of the mention of “my son.” It makes it personal and shows the reader exactly what’s at stake. You might explore this through writing examples of what tough times you need the strength for, or something specific about the peace you’re seeking. You can show the reader an example of the good you’ve done, and what cause you want to have lived for.

    I have a question about these lines:
    “I pray that when I take my last breath and my heart beats no more. /I pray I lived for a cause, that was worth dying for./ For what joy comes from a life that is hard to grasp, as if reaching for the wind?”
    Did you mean for them to run together? If so, you can change the two periods to commas. If not, please complete your thoughts about what you’d like to have happen when you take your last breath, etc.

    Thanks again for writing and sharing this poem! Keep writing!

  2. Ann on September 27, 2023 at 7:51 PM

    Hi AL,

    What an inspiring poem. Shows a deep belief in the power of prayer, prayer as universal love.

    Thank you for sharing.

    Sending love, Ann

  3. Morgan Schoenenberger on September 28, 2023 at 6:59 PM

    Your poem gives insight on your grief and what might want to come next for you. It shows your hope. It gives a deep meaning to how you are feeling and I love the metaphors you use to describe it. You really put your heart into this and it shows. Keep sharing how you feel so many people relate to how you are feeling on different levels.

  4. Ashanti S on October 1, 2023 at 2:42 PM

    I love this, AL. Faith is really important and I love the sentiment it holds for you because I can see its embodiment in your poem. Keep being faithful and I hope you get all that you’ve been praying for! Amazing writing overall and I look forward to reading more of your work!

  5. Shelby on October 1, 2023 at 10:19 PM

    Hi!
    I enjoyed reading your poem. I love the line “I pray that karma will forgive me, and not prey upon my son”, this was an incredible use of the homophone pray and prey. I also like how you asked a question, but ended with an assertive and enthusiastic statement. Overall this is great!

  6. Ernest on October 2, 2023 at 12:27 AM

    Prayers are always answered, and redemptions will always be given. As long as we hold onto hope and goodwill, and know love and know how to love, we will have the strength and peace and the confidence we need. We all have purposes in life, and we all find that purpose in different places including in our families. I always want good things to happen in my life, and in other people’s life. And when you wish something sincerely to happen, it will come true.

  7. Darkpheonix on October 2, 2023 at 1:20 AM

    Your prayer is a heartfelt reflection on the human experience, touching on themes of resilience, spirituality, and the pursuit of a meaningful life. It’s a testament to the universal desire for inner peace, righteousness, and the hope for a purpose worth living and, eventually, dying for. Your words beautifully encapsulate the essence of the human spirit’s enduring quest for meaning and fulfillment.

  8. Maddy on October 2, 2023 at 9:43 AM

    This piece was a really deep one. You are not only talking about yourself, but you are also praying for forgiveness and strength for others you care about. Relying on yourself in such a hard time can be a lot on the person. Expressing feelings like saying “inner peace” really spoke to me while reading.

  9. Jamie on October 5, 2023 at 12:55 PM

    I love that you are praying for someone other than yourself! It’s beautiful that you believe in a higher power; it helps a lot in times when you are seeking hope, and it is hard to find! I struggled to understand the part where you talked about taking your last breath and your heart beating no more, maybe it was just a grammatical error, but I’m sure it has great meaning and speaks volumes. I hope to soon read more of your poems. Keep up the great work, you have a great gift!

  10. Omar Amrani on October 8, 2023 at 9:57 PM

    AL,
    Your poem is brilliantly written and well paced. I really enjoyed the themes of self reflection, and a desire to seek inner peace in an adverse situation. I believe this poem is a reflection of your craving for personal growth and self improvement.

  11. Maddy on October 10, 2023 at 8:23 AM

    Keeping a positive mind and spirit is important. The use of word choice could have been more inclusive. I really wanted more descriptive words but the idea of the poem was there and I got the overall picture.

  12. Linzee on October 10, 2023 at 10:08 AM

    I know that one day you will get to try this life thing all over again. Justice serves the people who are deserving, and I believe you are deserving and a very valuable person. I hope one day you and your son are able to reconnect with each other. What you are doing to cope is an excellent mechanism as it allows you to calm yourself and seek your inner peace. Keep going!

  13. AR on October 10, 2023 at 10:15 AM

    When you said “I pray that karma will forgive me, and not prey upon my son.” it spoke volumes about how you care for your children and take accountability for your actions. I don’t know if you follow a religion but you can ignore it if you don’t, however I want you to know God is listening. He has watched you at your worst and has not turned his back on you, although it might feel like it at times. Everything does happen for a reason as corny as it sounds. I resonate with “I pray I lived for a cause, that was worth dying for.” We all want this to be worth it. All the pain and suffering, we all want it to be worth the time. No one is perfect, you along with everyone else in this world has done something bad but it does not define you.

  14. Kate Lilley on October 11, 2023 at 6:40 PM

    This poem shows the hope the author has. Even while going through hard times, they’re still praying and they’re still taking the time to realize the good things they do have and all there is to be thankful for. It’s an inspirational piece because you get to see all that you have to be thankful for, and that God will guide you through whatever hard time you’re in. It’s a beautifully written poem, and the author shows a lot of emotion and vulnerability throughout the piece.

  15. Lancy Liu on October 15, 2023 at 7:08 PM

    Thank you for sharing your heart with your poetry.

  16. Choudhry Ahmed on October 22, 2023 at 2:37 PM

    It beautifully illustrates how the act of prayer can be a source of comfort, guidance, and resilience in the face of adversity. The poem’s portrayal of the transformative power of prayer encourages us to seek hope and support in our spiritual beliefs, highlighting the potential for healing and growth in our most trying moments.

  17. Carleigh Gentry on October 25, 2023 at 10:35 PM

    This is so calming and fulfilling. It is all so true! Keep up the good work.

  18. Donny on November 5, 2023 at 5:52 PM

    I think you have a wonderful poem here. The repetition of “I pray” really adds a powerful emotional impact. Your work here is very honest and relatable. A lot of the time the only power we have is to hope and pray. There is alot of personality and honesty in that poem which makes it so endearing and emotional. I hope to read more of your work!

  19. Morgan Schoenenberger on November 5, 2023 at 7:10 PM

    The hope you are holding onto is so powerful. I love that you talk about how failure is inevitable and it is okay to fail because you will have the chance to try again. This is so important and I love that you recognize that. You bring to light some of the difficulties you have faced and how you’ve pushed through. Keep writing!

  20. Kennedy Critz on February 23, 2024 at 1:39 PM

    This is such a calming piece of art. Prayer changes everything, I am a living witness.

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