Elmo by James Kavanaugh
Elmo prays not because he has faith or
Because he learned about God
At his mother’s knee or at a preacher’s elbow.
Elmo prays because he has tried everything else
Drinking
Screwing
Running away
Working
To take away the pain of being a frightened man
Which is totally unacceptable
Especially to women and most men.
And none of this worked very well
Till Elmo started talking
To someone
Somewhere
Who seemed to understand.
Now Elmo prays
Not to Jesus or Buddha
Not to a theological God or philosophical omnipotence
Not to a computerized and selective savior.
Just to someone
Somewhere
Who seems to understand
And likes the hell out of Elmo.
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