Any Way I Like

So this is a new poem, never been seen before (except by my cute husband).  This was inspired by a pet peeve of mine.  I tend to really resent it when pastors/books/people in general start telling me how I shouldn’t pray.  I don’t like that.  So I wrote this poem in response, and I think it turned out pretty silly and fun considering it was based on an irritation.  Like a pearl, but funnier.

I will pray any way I like.

I will pray for stuff I want

I will pray for grandpa’s and aunts

I will pray that 27 million slaves will be set free

I will pray for politicians with integrity

I will pray over hangnails and cancer

I will pray for cats and dogs and hamsters

I will pray for bad boyfriends to leave

I will pray afterward when I’m lonely

I will pray my joy, sorrow, and apathy

I will pray with rhyme and poetry

I will pray rotes lists from memory

I will pray the rosary

I will pray the prayers of saints

I will pray for babies with metaphysical angst

I’ll pray for things no one is ready for

I’ll pray when I can’t stand life anymore

I will pray for the end of hunger and poverty

I will pray for the end of prostitution and pornography

I will pray for judges who are merciful

I will pray for solutions that are beautiful

I will pray for the kids on our street

I will pray for people I’ll never meet

I will pray for kids that have no hope

I will pray for kids who struggle with homework.

I will pray for comfortable jails and short sentences

I will pray for bullies and menaces

I will pray over the split lip of a three-year-old

I will pray for crime to leave my neighborhood

I will pray for God to fix how cranky I am

I will pray for no more fireworks at 2am

I will pray the words of ancient traditions

I will pray for efficiency and organization

I will pray for success and riches

I’ll pray for relief when my left eye twitches

I will pray for efforts and causes

I will pray for charities and churches

I will pray when the leaves are tender and green

I will pray when God feels distant and mean

I will pray rants and diatribes

I will pray silly deals and bribes

I will pray for things that aren’t quite right

I will pray with all my breath and might

I will pray for everything I know and touch

I will pray since I can’t ever pray too much

I will pray because God has everything that I’ll ever get

I will pray trusting that God will not give me bad gifts

I will pray with confidence because God knows I’m made out of dirt anyway

I will pray because I don’t know what to do a lot of the time

I will pray because I want someone to listen to me

I will pray because God is my greatest friend

So I will pray any way I like.