A Prayer

When I was a child
I would crouch by my bed and pray

for my grandmother

"please don't let her die"

for my parents

"I don't want them to be sick anymore"

for myself

"make me strong, don't let them see me cry"


Now that I'm older
I still sometimes find myself
crouched on the floor asking to be heard,
crouched like a beaten dog...
only now my prayers are different

for my brother

"please let him know he's loved"

for my father

"please keep him sober"

for myself

"please let me survive, let me be strong.....please let me cry"