I don’t know how to pray, or
Who to pray to but when
My daughter was hurt I
Breathed for her, felt my lungs
Expand and I pressed her
Feet, to warm them with my warmth and I
Loved the circle of old ladies in Honduras
Who I was told were praying for her and I
Imagined fairies winding strong golden wire
Around and around and around
To knit her pelvis back
Together, and I wonder,
Is this prayer?
Pencilonmybackporch 
Oh, I am shook, Fran. Just shook.
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So breathtakingly beautiful. I can feel your exhale as you push these hopes, these pleas, these prayers out in a hopeful whoosh. I am not at all sure what prayer is either. I once felt so strongly that I did know, but now… I will forever think about your words and define it thus.
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Your poem feels like the most powerful type of prayer–intense, heartfelt and so beautiful. I hope you share your words with your daughter and that she has fully recovered.
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This is a mother’s prayer for certain. And a beautiful one at that. I feel your ache and desire for healing. Thank you so much for sharing and I’m sending extra prayers your way in hopes that healing has or will happen.
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So beautiful and so poignant. I am thinking how moms breathe for the babies in the beginning, before they’re born…then that metaphor of breathing for them when hurt…so very powerful and true. Willing the healing to happen. I can see those old Honduran ladies gathered round her, and even the fairies knitting broken bones. As for prayer – yes. “Amen” means “so be it.”
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Your poem is moving; it powerfully expresses the fear and hope for your daughter. I hope that your daughter has fully recovered!
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This in itself is a beautiful prayer- sending thoughts out to the world. I hope there has been healing.
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So deep and full of love in a few short lines. I love your image of the golden wire holding the pelvis together. It must have been so traumatic. I hope she is fully recovered now. So good to know that local ladies were praying for her too.
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You captured a mother’s love in this prayer/poem.
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This is THE.MOST.BEAUTIFUL.PRAYER.
Thanks for sharing it with us here.
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