I find it easy to pray for
other people -
to wish them happiness
safety
well-being
it makes me feel
virtuous and
a little bit righteous…
especially when praying for my enemies…

Oh! How I can pray for my enemies!
“those who have trespassed against…”
litany after litany
during dark nights
pacing the wooden floors
with my bare feet,
avoiding the accusatory reflections
of my own eyes
in bare windows…

“Pray for me! ” it says as I turn a corner
“Pray for me! ” as I go up the stairs,
my voice repeating incantations -
names of those I pray for –
my mouth forming the syllables
the many requests..
fervently I pray
for them
not for me

never for me

YURI DURAAN

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/absent-prayers/