How shall I start a prayer for peace
In my often troubled heart

To whom shall I pray
To God, to Allah, to Yahweh, to Jesus
To one of the Marys
Mary, mother of Jesus
Mary Magdala, tower of strength
Mary of Bethany, resurrection believer
Or to Martha, server of divinity

For what peace shall I pray?
For my own freedom from anger
For my family’s freedom from misunderstandings
For my children’s freedom from heartbreak
For my grandchildren’s freedom to grow
In peace

My, my, my, my
My prayer for peace feels unpeacefully selfish
Like a pearl found buried in a field
That I bought so I could forever miser that pearl
That pearl of peace
Created by what ancient oyster
In what long gone sea
Now a field
Waiting for my shovel
To fling wide the dirt
From that pearl of peace