by Ann Barr Weems

On the edge of war, one foot already in,

 

I no longer pray for peace:

I pray for miracles.

 

I pray that stone hearts will turn

to tenderheartedness,

and evil intentions will turn                                                                                             

to mercifulness,

and all the soldiers already deployed

will be snatched out of harm's way,

and the whole world will be

astounded onto its knees.

 

I pray that all the "God talk"

will take bones,

and stand up and shed

its cloak of faithlessness,

and walk again in its powerful truth.

 

I pray that the whole world might

sit down together and share

its bread and its wine.

 

Some say there is no hope,

but then I've always applauded the holy fools

who never seem to give up on

the scandalousness of our faith:

that we are loved by God......

that we can truly love one another.

 

I no longer pray for peace:

I pray for miracles.