Poetry is the food of the soul. It's my greatest contribution to the world and an area I can always grow.

Are we really so different?

Voices from the world

Customs, language,

Hopes and dreams

Symptoms of being human

And yet spiritually

We seek improvement

For ourselves and other

And when we pray

We do it the same way

Bow our heads

Make a commitment,

To a higher power

Words are different

Messages the same

We all will ask

Time and again

For safety, health

Child well-being

Sometime prosperity

Heal our pain

Give us strength

No more disease

Clean, fresh water

Let us sleep with ease

Help our neighbors

Feed the poor

Stop the bombings

Stop the wars

Just stop it all!

Seems we’ve found

That common ground

No one thought was there.

Could be because

We weren’t looking?

Our gods may differ

Doctrines and disciplines

Customs, clothes

Holy places too

Nearly everything,

Except, of course

That we keep praying

Seeking healing

A higher message

And a loving feeling

© 2020 Ralph Schwartz

Comments

Gypsy Rose Lee from Daytona Beach, Florida on February 20, 2020:

Most inspirational and I pray every day.

Dora Weithers from The Caribbean on February 19, 2020:

"Seems we’ve found / That common ground /No one thought was there." Your message is clear. Good poetry.

OLUSEGUN from NIGERIA on February 18, 2020:

Good Poem!

A B Williams from Central Florida on February 18, 2020:

Amen Ralph. Beautiful!

When we pray, "we make a commitment to a higher power", it's done in a loving and unselfish manner, for positive things and positive change.

My most recent prayer, was prayed last night at the end of the Daytona 500:

Lord, wrap Ryan Newman in your arms and see him safely home to his loved ones. In Jesus Name. Amen.

It's that simple, not any more complicated than that, but so many attempt to turn it into something unnatural.

If someone is using words, just to be using words, in an unloving manner for negative or unhealthy things, that's not prayer, that's something else.