Say prayer’s correctly rubbing God’s back
like a rabbit’s foot clutched in a pocket,
or an ancient Persian lamp gathering
dust on a shelf, one wish held in reserve.
it’s making sure the horseshoe’s heel faces
up, lest the blessings leak. perhaps prayers
are dreamcatchers aligned like satellites
transmitting psalms to celestial spheres,
or some other means of snapping fingers
in front of God’s face: grabbing attention
without the need for screams emanating
from the red-soaked earth, clay calling Potter
to account for—or at least questioning—
the cracks in the crucifix on the wall.
MEH is Matthew E. Henry, a multiple Pushcart and Best of the Net nominated poet, and the author of Teaching While Black (Main Street Rag, 2020). His theological works are appearing or forthcoming in various publications, including The Amethyst Review, The Anglican Theological Review, Dappled Things, The Other Journal, Perspectives, Poemeleon, Relief, Rigorous, Rock and Sling, Spiritus, 3Elements Literary Review, and The Windhover. MEH is an educator who received his MFA from Seattle Pacific University, yet continued to spend money he didn’t have completing an MA in theology and a PhD in education.
