We were all gathered in prayer
heads bowed in the
sanctuary
as she began to speak
to proclaim our
petitions
speaking for each one
of us
in pastoral prayer
in the midst of our
silence
lifting up our hopes,
our dreams
our desires up to God
Speaking of the
holiday
the meaning behind
the pausing
the remembering of Labor
Day
She spoke of our concerns,
our celebrations,
sharing
with each other, with
God
how God had blessed
us
how God is the source
of all things
the creator of our
lives
But then she paused,
murmuring
reminders of the
larger world
the unfinished
business
of laborers tired,
laborers working
through Labor Day
of the forgotten and
used
of minimum wage
of workers in other
lands
oppressed for our
goods
The sky opened, as if
in retort
giving an Amen from
the heavens
rapping suddenly,
intently, insistently
on the domed roof
echoing through the
wood
high above us
the prayers we had
raising
in silence together
Preach sister! Preach
of the oppressed
the migrants and the
unwanted jobs
the unskilled, and
our desires for things
make us remember that
laborers
still labor, this
Labor Day
that we in this land
of excess
have forgotten the
mills, but they are there
they are still in use
for our desires, our
wantings
We are kindred with
them too
even when we forget
see only the day off
reminded by her
words,
the staccato of the
rain raising its voice
while ours were still
heads bowed
listening to her
prayer
and the Amen and Amen
again
echoing in the rain
--------------
edited November 17, 2016
Raining Prayer – v2
September 3, 2006 15:52
Raining Prayer
All of my poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted
by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009,
2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016. All rights reserved. Contact me at
Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com)
for usage. See all 42,310+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.
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