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A CHILD’s PRAYER
We saw it coming, the storm of storms,
A swirl of wind and rain,
It was so much bigger than we'd ever seen,
The world’s largest hurricane.
We heard it whine and grind its gears,
It made a dreadful moan,
The depth of the sound was an octave so low,
An almost unworldly groan.
Streaks of lightning flashed in the sky,
Arcing and sizzling the air,
Scorching tornadoes with plumes of ash,
The scent of burning everywhere.
Long ago at the Master’s call,
On the Sea of Galilee,
We learned just how to face the wind,
And calm an angry sea.
The salty taste! Oh! How long it’s been!
Since we’d swung upon a mast,
And played within the rigging,
Sheets full against the blast.
And then we were given this second chance,
Because of the Child’s Prayer,
So we gathered quick to Heaven's Gate,
For aye we’d soon be there.
The front line was called and down we went,
Through corridors of stars,
We glanced the Milky Way as we flew,
Rounding Jupiter, then Mars.
With wings pressed back like fighter jets,
Our feathers matted tight,
We shot across the universe,
Into the dark of night.
We dove in waves of ten-thousand,
And let the pressure push us back,
We laughed and sang without measure,
As we revelled in the attack.
Some of us surfed upon the front,
Some tumbled into its core,
There wasn’t any one of us,
Who didn’t wish for more.
Over and over we dove face first,
Just to feel the wind,
Like dogs with their heads out car windows,
We had to do it again.
And once we had our fill of fun,
We aligned for what we planned,
And dove against the grinding swirl,
To halt the hurricane’s stand.
Charge! Rang the call like cathedral bells,
Echoing through our ears,
Gong! Gong! Gong! Now Go!
Wipe away tiny tears!
Lightning tried to strike us down,
It took its aim but missed,
For not one angel lost its place,
Where mercy and truth had kissed.
And then we gathered side by side,
And round we marched again,
Shoulder to shoulder we slowed the storm,
Against the dearth of sin.
Above the eye our Master stood,
And watched the whole procession,
“Let’s show them how a prayer is won!”
“Let’s show them a child’s confession.”
Satan threw fits and railed hard,
He spewed hail with every gust,
For he had lost the will to control,
His ever growing lust.
It was then that we began to sing,
O're a million voices in praise,
At first a delicate harp-like sound,
Gently grew within the raze.
And then a voice burst through the throng,
As Michael made a toast,
“Holy, Holy, Holy,
Is the Lord of Hosts!”
We laughed and danced and spread our wings,
As the winds completely slowed,
The ocean below sighed with relief,
As it laid down its heavy load.
“Well that was all a bit of fun,
I hope we get to do it again some day ...”
“No doubt you will,” said Jesus,
“For the children have learned to pray.”
Sheila Willar - September 22, 2005
(revised September 7, 2017)
Matthew 19:14 (KJV)
But Jesus said, Suffer [do not prevent] little children, and forbid them not, to come unto Me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
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