How to Pray

Told me how I oughta,

Said, ‘son this is how you pray’

And started speaking words

That seemed a little out of place

But the words seemed 

to carry importance

As if they’d mastered

this magic skill

“Hallowed and Our Father”

Guess they’d figured out the right way

To seek his will?

And I tried

Really hard, I tried 

Remember I was 13

Sitting in those wooden pews 

Pastor man he looked around

Guess I’d found favor

‘Son, why don’t you?’

And I pulled up those prayers

I’d listened to as each Sunday service 

came to an end 

Opened up my mouth

And played pretend

“Dear Father…”

But I didn’t feel like it was real

I was saying words I didn’t really feel

And maybe that’s not a bad way to pray

But looking back

Guess I always felt like there was another way

So years went by

And I let my voice be silent on the wind 

Through times of desperation, always thought

My words would just offend

And I stopped

Feeling like I could pray

Because I just couldn’t do it 

The right way

But tears of joy and laughter

Times when it’s hard and I felt alone

Life that I was living 

Became the place 

I started to know

Three simple breaths

I uttered in the midst of each next thing

Maybe this wasn’t ’the right way’

But my spirit started to bring

“Help”

In desperation

“Please”

When I needed a hand

and “Thank you”

Even when I was hurting

Because being grateful is how you stand

Even if on my knees

These simple words

Started to ease

And the prayers like ‘Our Father’

Still mean a lot when they touch my ears

But it was the act of desperation, hope

That made my faith become so clear

And I pray

The way I pray

And I wouldn’t change it

Doesn’t work any other way…

So, I pray.

11/21/25

clc