by Nicarlyle Hanchard

With bended knees
I pray to Thee,
Each bead, each prayer
Ends with the wish for a simpler existence

Night after night,
Each tear I wipe,
Accompanied by unnerving fright,
Ends with a yawn
To bid farewell
To the night’s delight

From the ashes, I arise,
Unclothed, unwinged,
Bare and muddied
As they claim I am

Still, yet,
It echoes,
A prayer to be said;

Night after night,
On bent knees,
With hands clasped
I prayed to Thee.

The reprieve received,
Though neat and sweet,
Drowned in sounds
of cresting waves

Words have meaning,
I knew it not then,
Each sentence strung together
as a plea,
Dug a hole deeper
Than the mind’s eye could see.

Still, they persist,
That on bended knee
I should pray to Thee;
Like a coin forgotten in a pocket,
Kissed and blessed
In hopes of good fortune,
When doomed, it is
to land on its head.

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Nicarlyle Hanchard is an aspiring writer and poet, in his senior year as a journalism major at Youngstown State University. His journey as a poet began in 2018 through a series of pieces written while he was a member of his high school’s Drama Club. His membership in the club inspired further writing projects and an acknowledgement of his passion for poetry. Now, Nicarlyle’s work ranges from retellings of his personal experiences to commentary on the general human experience. Through his work, he hopes to offer comfort to others as they recognize that they are not alone in their experiences.