Failed Prayer

Whirling winds tossing strays
all about the sky, so black
and drenched with mischief—

It doesn't look so good
for little praying Mary
who bows her head dolefully
and clasps her hands
so tight, shaking
like an unprotected calf,
but she forces out words
that lacks the rhyme
and whit that is smiled upon
greatly
by our hypocritical Masters,
And the winds engaging
in their scarlet crusades
trample directly her way
with an elongated smile
etched across the baleful gusts.

Oh sweet Mary,
scream a little louder
so the gods will hear you,
scream and scream
until all your breath has abandoned
and left you
a subject to desperate gasping.

Oh Mary, rise up from kneeling
and guard yourself,
pick up that white candle
and don't let the winds
douse its flame,
don't let it flicker to its death
and burn no more.
Let it burn brighter,
burn, burn, burn,
let it keep fighting
with you,
let it burn a passage
into another world
with you,
Oh gracious Mary,
let it be the warmth to your air
and thaw the Mephistophelian winds.