Old Prayers

Sometimes I have no words to give to God,
there's nothing in my sorry soul to say,
I may as well be sunk beneath the sod,
ennui so much on me I cannot pray.

A mind so full of worries got me down,
with God so far away, what can I do?
On every forlorn face is fixed a frown,
with every color blending into blue.

I, empty, move to mine my memory,
and there a prayer whose words I know appears,
I say them slow and, lo, they comfort me,
and soon God comes to truck away my fears.

I'm glad, O Lord, there are old prayers I know,
that sparkle as they lift my spirits so.

                                   -- by Pete Voelz     8/09