Now I Lay Me Down…
 
When the aching within me builds in
the indifferent silences of the night,
When unexpressed sorrow escapes from
dark corners of my mind into the light,
When ‘Should I have?’ and ‘Could I have?’
begin anew their damnable play,
Who is there to listen? Who hears
or pays attention to what I say?
When years of regret and longing rise,
roiling unchecked through my soul,
When all those clear-as-yesterday memories
run rampant, seething hot - then cold,
When old guilt and anger reassert their
agitation and once again hold sway,
who truly gives a damn? Who is there
who cares enough to forgive me

...if, indeed, I could pray?
 
© 4/8/2007 Thurman P. Woodfork

Awarded 11May 2009