[Jim Ramsey]

version 3

The Wolf's Prayer

I wore the blue serge suit and power ties,
perfecting casual poses, easy smiles.
I nodded yes in board rooms, fitting in
and hid my wolfish wiles in wooly skin.

I learned like herbivores in petting zoos
to soften eyes and cock my head when cued.
I lied the lie that wars prevented wars,
then cooked the books and, spiteful, settled scores.

I waived the great ungrateful weight of guilt
and soothed hurt feelings with a smoothing lilt.
I twisted arms of meek subordinates
or transferred them to far coordinates.

I never thought my sins were all that odd
but, just in case, I ask forgiveness, God.


version 2

The Wolf’s Prayer

I wore the blue serge suit and power ties,
perfecting casual poses, easy smiles.
I nodded yes in board rooms, fitting in
and hid my wiles beneath a sheepish skin.

I begged like herbivores in petting zoos
and picked my times to bleat or smooze.
I lied the lies that wars prevented wars,
then cooked the books and, spiteful, settled scores.

I waived the great ungrateful weight of guilt
and served up innuendoes’ doubled lilts.
I bullied praise from meek subordinates
and pegged a map with owned coordinates.

I never thought I wore a greed much odd
but, just in case, I ask forgiveness, God.

version 1

The Plebe’s Prayer

I wore the blue serge suit and power tie.
I tried the casual pose and easy smile.
I nodded yes in committee, fitting in.
I hid my guile beneath a sheepish skin.

I lived in a petting zoo of herbivores.
I lied the lie that the end to wars was wars.
I’ve felt the great ungrateful weight of me—
I’ve shrugged my shrug and switched on my TV.

My hand has shaken some and my eye has twitched.
I’ve stood as heretic on trial bewitched.
My greatest fear is not of fear itself
but wasted fear that sits unused on shelves.

I ask for courage to stand now up or down
plus freedom just to somehow smile or frown.

L13, "now" added