What else should I have done?

Maybe it's as simple as Help! Thanks! and Wow! (Thanks, Anne Lamott )  Prayer, that is.

I tend to think it is usually that simple.

As I was cleaning up a few poetry resources today, I came upon an old little poetry book I had picked up from a used book sale several years back. It fell open to this poem, which I will share with you.. because I like it!

"The proper way for a man to pray,"

Said Deacon Lemuel Keyes,

"And the only proper attitude

Is down upon his knees."

"No, I should say the way to pray,"

Said Rev. Doctor Wise, 

"Is standing straight with outstretched arms

And rapt and upturned eyes."

"Oh, no; no, no," said Elder Slow,

"Such posture is too proud: 

A man should pray with eyes fast closed

And head contritely bowed."

"It seems to me his hands should be

Austerely clasped in front,

With both thumbs pointing toward the ground,"

Said Rev. Doctor Blunt. 

"Las' year I fell in Hodgkin's well

Head first," said Cyrus Brown,

"With both my heels a-stickin' up,

My head a-pinting down;

"An' I made a prayer right then an' there—

Best prayer I ever said, 

The prayingest prayer I ever prayed,

A-standing on my head."

by Sam Walter Foss


And while I'm at it, here's one I just love...

I don't know what a prayer is

I do know how to pay attention,

how to fall down into the grass

how to kneel down in the grass

how to be idle and blessed

how to stroll through the fields,

which is what I have been doing all day, 

Tell me, what else should I have done? 

by Mary Oliver