petitionary prayer

we all pray.

even if we don't acknowledge

a higher

power.

we pray

at the foot of the goalposts,

for the score

of a

meaningless game.

we pray for

rain,

we pray that the votes

are counted

and that the tally goes our way.

we pray

for crops in the field

to rise and feed us,

we pray we're

wrong,

we pray we're right.

we pray 

at the foot of our bed,

like we learned

as children,

in the darkness of night.