Lord, let me have an independent spirit,
but nurture and form it.
Let my poems reconcile
my darkness and your light.

Let me only make what you create.
But let me be original like you.

Let my poems be new,
but old like your lilies.
Let them be hard surfaced,
but deep like your sapphires.
Let my poems be well crafted,
but truthful like your prophets.

Let my poems strike at what is wrong,
but let them heal the soul
like your grace.