My Prayer

My Prayer

P K Routray

As a child, I was taught to pray

at every evening every day

also at the start of the class

in chorus with the rest of the mass.

with elders in the society

to worship many a deity,

We joined the celebration

for a break from the study with frolic and fun,

for a variety of sweets after the offerings

which attracted us more than His blessings.

But at times then also in fear and despair

for our exam results, we offer our prayer

to come out of the bout and route

but at His existence, I had still the doubt.

Further reinforced by our higher education

where nothing was taught on God and religion.

Also my university course in its fabrics

were based on proofs,  science, and logic

that requires sensible proof of His existence

such designs by His real  physical presence,

or by His deeds graspable by mortal man’s logics

or at man’s beck and call exhibiting His mystics

well sensed by man’s five sense organs

and satisfying the laws framed by humans

thus inculcating within me a sense of atheism

faltering my belief and devotion at heart’s bottom

on His so pronounced existence

not taking His all-pervading presence to cognizance

despite his repeated answers

with His benign grace to my prayers.

Thus Him I surrender with such impurities within

Hey Lord! For unflinching faith in you, clean me of such sin.