THE LONELIEST PRAYER
HARDY B. ABBOTT
AS I SQUAT HERE IN THIS LONELY PLACE,
A MAN, MAYBE EVEN YOU FORGOT, I WONDER, AM I IN LIVING HELL?
AM I ALIVE OR NOT?
I THINK IT'S MORE THAN TEN YEARS NOW
SINCE MY LAST FRIEND LEFT THIS PLACE.
I GUESS HE'S BACK HOME-
WHEREVER THAT IS-
AMONG THE HUMAN RACE.
FORGIVE ME, LORD, IF I SEEM UNTRUE
TO THE VALUES MY PARENTS TAUGHT,
TO THOUGHTS OF YOU, OF FAMILY AND OF COUNTRY-
THESE THINGS FOR WHICH I FOUGHT.
BUT, AS I'VE ENDURED THE ENDLESS DAYS
THAT DRAGGED ON INTO YEARS,
I'VE BATTLED WITH MY VERY BEING
TO HOLD BACK THE BITTER TEARS.
MY CHILDREN,
BY NOW THEY'RE NO LONGER SMALL,
BY NOW THEY'VE NEARLY GROWN.
MY POOR WIFE, SHE'S HAD THAT TOO;
SHE'S RAISED THEM ALL ALONE.
I'VE WEPT TO HOLD MY DARLINGS,
TO WATCH MY CHILDREN GROW,
TO FEEL YOUR PRESENCE, LORD,
MY FAITH IN YOU TO SHOW.
BLESS ME, FATHER, AND TAKE THIS LIFE,
PLEASE LET IT END TODAY.
I WONDER HOW THEY LISTED ME - POW OR MIA?
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