Poison Pie Publishing House: A Prayer for Darkness




A Prayer for Darkness

No one lights a lamp to put it under a tub;
they put it on the lamp-stand
where it shines for everyone in the house.
Matthew 5:15


Lord, I have covered the lamp
for the meager light that it shines
I have no wish to be known.
Lord, I have covered the lamp.

Lord, it seems You understand me
no better than I understand Your ways
for You exhort us to show off our light,
while I have covered the lamp.

Whether are hidden deeds good or foul
emanating from this source, I care not,
though, in truth, I aim for good. Still,
Lord, I have covered the lamp.

Lord, let the darkness cover me,
if not Your shadow, then another's.
Lord, let the flame flicker and dance
unseen beneath the cover of the lamp.

Let this fire illuminate nothing,
for there is nothing hidden here in darkness
that shall take a fairer form when cast in light.
Thus, Lord, have I covered the lamp.

I burn, admittedly, though not for show.
I burn because, because my wick is time,
my flesh is wax, and the fire eats at both.
Panicked, Lord, I have covered the lamp.

Lord, I insist my light holds no ulterior motive
and I claim no virtue, only the mere modicum
of discretion required to acknowledge
an accidental grace in covering the lamp.






A Prayer for Darkness
David Keffer
Knoxville, TN
October 7, 2014

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