Prayer

I asked the gods to hold back the waters,
but the waters came.  I asked the gods
to spare my sons and daughters, but the war
came.  I asked the gods for a bountiful harvest,
but a swarm of locusts burrowed from the ground
in high June.  I asked the gods to spare her
from cancer, but blastomas do not heed
the gods’ words.  So I asked the gods: “what
are you here for?”  And the gods replied,
through rain: “Who else have you to turn
to when the world calls you to its bidding?”
So I turned to the hardened earth and sang.