My grandmother had an altar <br />in the middle of the living room; <br />Mother Mary statute four feet tall. <br /> <br />On the table it rose seven feet <br />towering over all. <br /> <br /> <br />In an family emergency <br />a candle was lit <br />she would kneel; <br />pray- <br />candle flickering <br />on her face- <br />lit like heaven <br />was supplying <br />the electricity; <br />so serene that <br />face <br />and most often <br />the hallway phone would ring <br />and I swear <br />that family emergency <br />had been resolved <br />somehow <br />someway. <br />. <br />Came Christmas <br />I was alone <br />with the Madonna <br />and I knelt <br />just like Grandma <br />lit my candle too <br />and prayed for a toy tank. <br /> <br />Got one too <br />except it came <br />on the TV. <br /> <br />America <br />was fighting <br />a war in Korea. <br /> <br />My thought to this <br />day: <br />maybe I did it wrong <br />but can't risk doing it again <br />the whole world might get <br />destroyed. <br /> <br />Just one of those child fears <br />that lingers on. <br /> <br />Oh I still pray <br />but now I just leave <br />those candles alone. <br /> <br />Apparently <br />my praying is too powerful <br />and by not praying that way <br />I save the whole world <br />from me <br />everyday.<br /><br />Lonnie Hicks<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-altar-5/
