Call of a Prayer Warrior

He grasped me firmly by the hand,
and led me into a room.
I never saw such deep sadness,
I never saw such gloom.

There before me, an elderly woman stood,
with a tiny cup in her little hand,
she hadn't any money,
and had lost her husband, her home, and her land.

A man was sitting in a corner,
a blank expression upon his face,
his children had abandoned him,
and the loneliness, was more than he could take.

A child with cuts and bruises,"
was crying, clutching a ragged old teddy bear,
beaten by a drunken father,
who didn't know any more, how to care.

A young woman with a baby,
was sobbing silently,
deserted by a husband,
who needed drugs to fill his needs.

A man was rocking back and forth,
his mind in deep despair,
blaming himself, for things he'd done,
memories, too painful, to bear.

A prisoner sitting in a lonely cell,
no calls, no word from home,
never had he felt so forsaken,
never, so all alone.

The Angel led me back to the gate,
and with a knowing smile,
said, "Are you really all that tired?"
"Or, do you think you can walk an extra mile?"

I turned, and walked away from him,
my heart just would not let me stay.
I knew there were many others, just like these,
who needed me, to stand, and pray.

© 1999 Sandra Lewis Pringle