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Raj Arumugam Sep 2010
1
full of faith and belief
I prayed and prayed;
and at long last God
(don’t imagine a He or She)
said to me:
“I’m moved by your faith.
Is there something you’d like?”

I shook my head.

And God smiled
and said:
“Would you like
some gold, oil and money?”

“No,” I said
and prayed and prayed.


“A never-ending supply
of food, perhaps?”
asked God.

“No, no,” I said,
and prayed and prayed.

“The gift of poetry, perhaps?”
asked God.

“No, no, never that.
What, you want to ruin me?”
I said,
and prayed and prayed.


“Wealth? Fame?
A good obedient wife
who can’t speak, perhaps?”
said good God.


“No, no, “
I said
and prayed and prayed.



2
“Shall I,” offered God,
“remove all suffering
from the world?”


“No,” I said.
“The world’s already used to it.”
And I prayed and prayed.


“Look, you must tell me
what you want,”
said God, now appearing a little irritated.

“Oh well, if you insist,”
I said.
“I want your job.”

And God disappeared
as fast as speedy Gonzales.
as human beings, we are mostly unthinking; inventions and discoveries, for example, are made by the few and enjoyed mindlessly by the majority; and worse, we transfer this mindlessness and dependency to our inner lives and in our thoughts about mortality and life, and in our search for meaning...this poem offers itself in one's inquiry into truth
aj Oct 2018
I prayed that you find hope inside disaster

I prayed that if disaster struck
at least maybe you learn from the inevidable

I prayed for the power to protect you
I prayed to forgiven; I failed

I prayed that I would stop worshiping you as if you hailed from the sky

I prayed to those unknown deities
I prayed they would stop taunting me with you

I prayed that maybe I would stop making wishes for you
I prayed that I would not care as much about you

I prayed that angles would stop playing tricks
I prayed their soft tongues and laughing frames would stop placing their creations upon my path like golden gifts on display

but I am on my knees and sitting still
praying that I would stop worshiping you

(you are a blessing
that I've been condemned to)



amen
Cedric McClester Apr 2015
By: Cedric McClester

I lit a candle in you memory
A simple gesture it may be
But even though my eyes are wetter
It makes me feel a little better
See I know for a fact
That nothing I do will bring you back
Though I had to do something in your memory
Some kind of expression to show what you mean to me

So I lit a candle and then I prayed
And I thanked the Lord for what He made
Someone as wonderful and real as you
And I prayed that He would see me through

I lit a candle the other day
I couldn’t believe you had passed away
Guess in between the pain joy and sorrow
We’re here today and gone tomorrow
But the memories we have can last forever
That’s something we never have to sever
Out of darkness we can find the light
And eventually we’ll be all right

So I lit a candle and then I prayed
And I thanked the Lord for what He made
Someone as wonderful and real as you
And I prayed that He would see me through

There’s no point in me masking
The pain I feel cos of your passing
But why’s the question I won’t be asking
God has a plan that’s everlasting

So I lit a candle and then I prayed
And I thanked the Lord for what He made
Someone as wonderful and real as you
And I prayed that He would see me through

I lit a candle and prayed for you
A special prayer as I often do
The difference this time is you’re not here
And I’ll never again hold you near
But here in my heart in so many ways
I’ll remember you for the rest of my days
Up until the time that we’re reunited
And our Book of Deeds is recited

There’s no point in me masking
The pain I feel cos of your passing
But why’s the question I won’t be asking
God has a plan that’s everlasting

So I lit a candle and then I prayed
And I thanked the Lord for what He made
Someone as wonderful and real as you
And I prayed that He would see me through

I lit a candle in you memory
A simple gesture it may be
But even though my eyes are wetter
It makes me feel a little better



(c) Copyright 2015, Cedric McClester.  All rights reserved.
I prayed that you shall walk boldly unto his Throne room.
I prayed that you shall hang onto his Mighty Strength here.
I prayed not that you shall never suffer but that you shall overcome.
I prayed , that you shall always feel his Awesome Love here.
I prayed as well that he shall use all of your pain and suffering.
To reveal to others that he lives within you my always friend.
I prayed that he shall always lift you up and guide you here.
I prayed that you are Loved and that you feel Love here as well.
I prayed, that you shall always be in my life here on the earth and heaven.
Logan Smith Sep 2016
When I was born my father held me in his arms,
Promised to cherish me,
Give me the world,
Always protect me,
And prayed to God that I'd never meet a man like you

He prayed that his daughter would never have to flinch when someone went to touch her.
Prayed that she'd never have to mistake being property for being loved.

My father prayed that I'd never know the terrifying hunger that exists in your eyes.
Prayed that I'd never have to cry while a man claimed to be making love to me,
When all he was doing was causing pain.
Prayed that I'd know the difference.

He prayed that I'd never have to lie to myself and say "I wasn't *****."
"He didn't mean it"
"Maybe he didn't hear me crying stop"
"At least he stopped when he saw the blood"

Prayed that it wouldn't take me 5 years to even talk about it out loud. Once. With my best friend. And still act like it wasn't a big deal.
This is the only poem I have written about this incident and my first time talking about it in a long time.

**trigger warning: *******
Santiago Nov 2015
I will never find another lover sweeter than you,
Sweeter than you
And I will never find another lover more precious than you
More precious than you
Girl you are close to me you're like my mother,
Close to me you're like my father,
Close to me you're like my sister,
Close to me you're like my brother
You are the only one my everything and for you this song I sing

And all my life I've prayed for someone like you
And I thank God that I, that I finally found you
All my life I've prayed for someone like you
And I hope that you feel the same way too
Yes, I pray that you do love me too

I said you're all that I'm thinking of.....baby

Said, I promise to never fall in love with a stranger,
You're all I'm thinking of, I praise the Lord above,
For sending me your love, I cherish every hug,
I really love you

And all my life, baby, baby, I've prayed for someone like you,
And I thank God that I, that I finally found you, baby
All my life I've prayed for someone like you
And I hope that you feel the same way too
Yes, I pray that you do, love me

You're all that I ever known, when you smile, on my face, all I see is a glow.
You turned my life around, you picked me up when I was down,
You're all that I ever known, when you smile on your face all I see is a glow,
You picked me up when I was down
You're all that I ever known, when you smile on your face all I see is a glow,
You picked me up when I was down and I hope that you feel the same way too,
Yes I pray that you do love me too

All my life, I've prayed for someone like you,
And I thank God that I, that I finally found you
All my life I've prayed for someone like you
Yes, I pray that you do love me too
All my life I've prayed for someone like you
And I thank God that I, that I finally found you
All my life I've prayed for someone like you
Yes, I pray that you do love me too
Heidy Aka My Best friend My First Love My Everything My Hero I Miss Your Soul.... <\3
Pete Youell Nov 2014
When he was still an atheist - he prayed.
He did not settle down on bended knee.
Forgiveness Love and peace are his today.

He might have lost and never found his way,
Hidden within Source helped this blind man see.
When he was still an atheist - he prayed.

Though many sacred blessings came his way,
He never saw the incongruity.
Forgiveness Love and peace are his today.

At times he questioned choices he had made,
He thought his life unlocked by good luck' s key.
When he was still an atheist - he prayed.

Although in war, angels came to his aid,
He never saw past physicality.
Forgiveness Love and peace are his today.

When he could see his whole perspective changed,
He found he lived in Love's eternity.
When he was still an atheist - he prayed.
Forgiveness Love and peace are his today.
A little villanelle, I'm told I belong in the 19th century poetically.
Seye Kuyinu Jun 2014
In the beginning we prayed the sun would shine
And that we would have butter for tomorrow's bread
And that kings would call us on our phones
And then we prayed for our families and for our friends
And for the meeting with the boss
At 10am tomorrow.

Later we walked through the back gate
Of the  petrol station that led us to the market
This time we prayed for enough money to buy stock fish
and the new maggi flavor they talked about on TV
But despite the fumes from the noisy generator outside,
8.30pm's dinner we would enjoy

Wasn't it the other day we prayed for lamb
and more soup when the bike hit you
and we could barely afford a cab to take us back home?
Quickly buying balm from the kiosk beside George's,
Asking God why again,  we prayed for a car.
Taxis don't enter after 10pm.

So from that day, we dreaded the gates
between the station and ojodu market
We looked beyond the skies when it rained
Soaking our sunday best. She hissed
And I made excuses, "Maybe God wants to tell us
That this time tomorrow, we will tell a story"
10pm tomorrow?

Heaven 's giant gates opened
Yes, slowly. Those everlasting gates did open
They did open to our hearts
But ours were shut.

Who knew when?
Thirty floors up, rifle in hand
windows blown out, a view of the land
she sighs... eight years of war, no end in sight
darkness prevails, gunshots in the night.
she's still there, provisions nearby
listening for the enemy's cry
she's cleaned her rifle a thousand times
two hundred tick marks, etched in fine lines
one down, an army to go.
she prayed to god that the flash wouldn't show.

this city's been dead for over a year
yet theres still so many who cower in fear
of her fifty cal blast in the dead of the night.
the enemy falls, no more need for fright
shes been here for nearly a year,
ten thousand rounds and an airdrop every moon
with a note that says the war could end soon
the food is bad but you hardly notice
the company's good, after all theyre the closest.
her spotter, a man, was all she had now
he swore he'd protect her no matter how
theyd been lovers, and friends even too
after all... it gave them something to do
a single shot rips through the night
tearing apart the enemy on the right
one more down, an army to go.
she prayed that the flash wouldn't show

she looked through the scope of her closest ally
the fifty cal's sights perfect to her eye
watching for movement, always alert.
as she felt his hand slip beneath her shirt.
she grinned a little as he crept towards her neck
shivering tingles made her a wreck
as she lie in prone, watching the town
glad to have this man around
"wait" she whispers, a target in sight
she lines up the shot and it echoes tonight.
one more down, an army to go.
she prayed that the flash wouldn't show.

she sigh's again, back to work.
watching wherever shadows lurk.
a flurry of shots rips through the air
straight past her face, singeing her hair
the flash gave him away, as he fired unaware
that he'd woken a ****** coaxed out of her lair
one more down, an army to go.
she prayed again that the flash wouldn't show.

the letters stopped coming, but the packages came
she knew what it meant, but everything's the same
this is life for her now, nothing will change
the war will go on, its nothing strange
theres five hundred marks on the .50 so far
theres more in their army, wherever they are
one more down, an army to go
she prays ever still that the flash wont show.

fifteen years later, its been days since a ****
everything was silent, all was still
instead of a package, a chopper came in
set down on the building with the ****** within
the rifle now had a thousand marks on its frame
almost all of them white, one red streak bright as a flame
she packed up her gear, the rifle and ammo
wiped off the dirt on her old urban camo
she made her way up, the general awaits
wondering what happened, her spotter's fate.
the one red streak, the mark of her friend
she was there, but he wasn't in the end.
driven insane by the constant fight
she'd put him out of his misery one night.
she said not a word as she boarded the ride
one single tear fell, with no attempt to hide the pain inside
one more down, no army to go
she prayed no more that the flash would show.
(epilogue)
her beloved fifty cal, now hung on her wall
rewarded to her for answering duty's call
that one red mark overshadowed the rest
he'd stuck with her so far, he'd done his best.
she was the best, the greatest marksman of all time
the dreams never ceased, the memories never ended
the death of her beloved, and the years she'd spent with
never left her, nor did she want them to
she got a call one day, she had a job to do.
the rifle came down from its spot on the wall
the time came again to answer the call
one more down, an army to go
she prayed once more that the flash wouldn't show
Matloob Bokhari Oct 2014
THE ARAB PAGANS
                     MATLOOB BOKHARI

The Arab pagans  were plunged in the depth of ignorance,
Barbarism;  adored idols, lived in unchaste life,
Ate  dead bodies,  disregarded every feeling of humanity,
Allah raised among them a man,  honest, and pure ;
Who called them to  Oneness of God , forbade idol worship.  
Enjoined them to speak truth, be faithful, merciful .
Muhammad taught them rights of  neighbors ; kith and kin:
Forbade them to speak evil of women, or to eat orphans’ stuff.  
Ordered them to flee from the vices, and to abstain from evil.
Offer prayers, render alms,  observe fast and respect elders.
  The Arab pagans rose against him to cease his preaching.
Muhammad with a bloodied face, a busted lip, a broken tooth prayed for them
When they mutilated Hamza’s corpse; burnt off his nose ;  cut off his ears;
Muhammad, the messenger of peace and love, forgiving prayed for the pagans
But the shadow  of  the dark clouds of hate totally eclipsed the moon of love
The Arab pagans ruthlessly massacred the whole family of Muhammad
Hussain ,picking up the body of his young son, an image of Muhammad,prayed:
Praise be to Allah Who is the hearer of prayers and warders off anguishes
Hussain, gathering pieces of the dead body of his nephew trampled by horses , prayed
O Allah! The All-gentle, the All aware! I willingly desire for You and testify Your Lordship!
Hussain, burrying  his six month martyr with his own hand in the sand of Karbala, prayed
Praise be to Allah Who is raiser of ranks and suppressor of tyrants
Hussain  standing on  shifting sand-dunes of Kerbala , smeared with blood. of Abbas, prayed
O All-merciful, O All-beneficent. !All glory be to You! Verily Originator and Reproducer
The grandson of Prophet Muhammad ,left all alone, called  for help
But the pagans threw his headless body  on  the plains of Karbala
Leaving Prophet’s daughters in   raging flames of tents, they celebrated victory
O God Who gladdens the hearts that mourn, dries the eyes that weep
I cannot write the whole story of love and hate,  My heart cries! My pen  bleeds!
Matloob, sky and stars weep upon such sacrifices, angels bow, they don’t die in vain!
Every soul shall  have a taste of death:  We test you by evil and by good by way of trial!
Praise be to Allah ,Hearer of prayers! From God we come, and unto Him is our return.













Jan G. A good poetic account of  the history of Islam. Another Hussein might be required to correct once again what came of the Islamic Republic. Oppression loves to speak in the name of liberation it once embraced. - See more at: http://allpoetry.com/poems/by/matloob#sthash.iCoJzCfi.dpuf



RAJ NANDY: To take an universal view I must say, that let religion not come in the way of love and peace! It has been for the Wise to show us the way, banish ignorance and bring forth light always! True faith is love and as the greatest binding force that shall remain! Thanks for sharing, -Raj



Rick Ratliff : I am  a Christian  and moved greatly by this  powerful read


Rev. Donny Doom – Thanks  for this thought provoking read!


Nikluss 6: An excellent story!!
is it from the Koran????
PEACE MATLOOB!!!!



tarobinson - What a great poem . Wonderfully told . RESPECTFULLY TOLD .




    Hussain was supported by Christians too in Karbala
    

Kyle Wittman - Title / intro is: It certainly sparked my attention.


My favorite line is: The last line.

It's a great read! I do love the imagery.






Dark Iris : Such a beautiful  truth! I  Like it.
Jackie  Aug 2020
I Prayed
Jackie Aug 2020
I prayed and prayed and prayed and prayed
For you to come and save the day
My sun was gone
My skies were gray
But then you left and went away
So I prayed
And I prayed for you that night
I gave everything so you could shine
So please stay away
I can't breathe when you're around
Leave it at bay
I'm trying to stay above the ground
So I prayed
Then you burnt me with that cigarette
So I caved
Now I'm here with these regrets
And now I don't pray
Cause you took all the faith in me
Now I pay
Every night when I can't sleep
Pray for me

— The End —