My grandmother used to tell me

To get on my knees and

Clutch my rosary,

To pray before bed.

Then, my mother taught me

It wasn’t necessary;

God didn’t need me on my knees

To hear me.

I remember my new, casual conversations

With On High,

And slowly, over many years,

I stopped praying altogether.

Ya know, I should’ve stayed

On my knees.

At least back then, I tried.