Prayer Against Certain Kinds of Hypocrisy
Prayer Against Certain Kinds of Hypocrisy
Our father who art in heaven,
hollowed is thy name,
when kindness will
not come and the earth
is not seen as a heaven;
when the gift of this day’s lost
in the get of daily bread;
when we forgive us our trespasses
with free-passes against those we pass by.
Leaders knot us into temptation,
and deliver us to upheaval,
for the bottom line is the kingdom,
power glorified for more
and for ever more–ah…..
men.
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I thought of this in the context of an Allen Ginsburg prompt at dVerse Poets Pub today, but although it has a Ginsburgian aspect, it does not fit the prompt! Still working a great deal but glad to slip away mentally once in a while.
I realized after posting that the above play on the Lord’s Prayer is somewhat derivative of Lawrence FerLingheti. His, which I’d seen in past lives but not thought much about recently, is in The Last Waltz, the movie about The Band, and may be found here. http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pE_8WK3tBuE&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DpE_8WK3tBuE
Explore posts in the same categories: poetry, UncategorizedTags: Bottom line on top, Delivers Us Unto Upheaval, Hollowed Is Thy Name, Lord Have Mercy poem, Lord's prayer poem, manicddaily, when earth's not seen as a heaven
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ManicDDaily 
November 14, 2013 at 10:55 pm
Excellent, prompt fitting or not.
November 14, 2013 at 11:12 pm
leaders knot us into temptation…ha…the power glorifed…ah, men. lol…oh my, i love your re-write…ah so true as well…so sadly true.
November 15, 2013 at 5:24 am
It’s a great twist or trope on prayers by the fallen for the mess. “Leaders knot into temptation” is perfect!
November 15, 2013 at 10:29 am
I am admiring your clever turn of words. This prayer is deeply familiar for me, though I have not said it for years out loud. You’ve painted a contemporary picture with it here. The leaders knot especially sharp. The gift lost in the Get of daily bread calls up the greed so many suffer from. And your closure couldn’t be more perfect.
November 15, 2013 at 2:37 pm
Really some sharp, perceptive, and clean surgical thrusts in the commentary here, k. I agree with Jane–the end lines are especially potent, almost like an incantation, and every word is twisted just perfectly aslant. I know I’ve seen The Last Waltz, but have forgotten the Ferlinghetti–your memory amazes me–no time now but will check later–chaos here today preparing for grandkids.Glad you found time to write and post.
November 15, 2013 at 4:34 pm
OMG this could not be more perfect! AWESOME write!
November 15, 2013 at 5:31 pm
Truth.
November 15, 2013 at 10:17 pm
Ha, thanks. k.
November 16, 2013 at 3:21 am
delicious, K ~
November 16, 2013 at 9:42 pm
You’ve spoken for Christ ! He too is applauding ! xx Faithfully Debbie