WE PRAY

And we pray and accept responsibility for those
who stare at photographers from behind barbed wire,
those who can't bound down the streets in a new pair of sneakers,
and those who never counted potatoes,

For those who were born in places we wouldn't be caught dead,
for ones who never go to the circus,
and who live in an X-rated world.

We pray and accept responsibility for children
who bring us sticky kisses and fistfuls of dandelions,
who hug us in a hurry and forget their lunch money.

And we pray and accept responsibility for those
who never get dressed,
who have no safe blanket to drag behind them,
for those who watch their parents watch them die,

And for those who can't find any bread to steal.
For those who don't have any rooms to clean up,
for those whose pictures aren't on anybody's dresser.
And those whose monsters are real.

We pray and accept responsibility for children who
spend all their allowance before Tuesday,
who throw tantrums in the grocery store and pick at their food,
For those who like ghost stories,

And for those who shove dirty clothes under the bed
and never rinse out the tub,
For those who get visits from the tooth fairy,
And who don't like to be kissed in front of the carpool,

And for those who squirm in church or in temple,
and scream in the phone,
whose tears we sometimes laugh at,
and whose smiles can make us cry.

And we pray and accept responsibility for those whose
nightmares come in the daytime,
who will eat anything,
for those who have never seen a dentist,

And those who aren't spoiled by anybody,
who go to bed hungry and cry themselves to sleep,
For those who live and move, but have no being.

We pray and accept responsibility for children who
want to be carried,
and for those who must,
for those we never give up on
and for those who don't get a second chance.

For those we smother
and for those who will grab the hand of anyone kind enough to offer it.

From the webpage of Bonnie at:
"Help the Innocent Children"
Click above to visit her site.