In My Prayers

In my prayers this morning you became the sky which through the
entire night did not close its eyes, a clear expanse ready to to
receive the first light, a curve of silence in wait of sound

as the sun drifted above my head, you beame in my prayers the tips of pines,
eternaly green and forever presenting abstruse questions
to the wind that hisse from directios unknown

in my prayers at dusk you became the sparrow that fluffed its feathers in the mist,
alighted on the branch and felled the tassel of the guava flowers
and then in sudden excitement flew away to alight on the mango branch

in my prayes this evening you became the distant wind that descended ever so slowly,
tiptoed down the path and slipped through the cracks of the panes and door to
press its cheeks and lips against my hair, chin and eyelashes

in my prayers to night you became the beating of my heart that has so
patiently endured what seems to be limitless pain and faithfully revealed
one secret after another, the unending song of my life

I love you, and for that reason, will never stop praying for your wellbeing.


(Sapardi Djoko Damono)