on the eve of the feast of st. francis of assisi

where are the voices of peace
on the eve of the feast of francis of assisi

i am listening

i hear

politicians politicizing
and

executive directors of peace organizations who
seem to be lost in their own importance and

journalists
who are
using canned bits

because they have lost their voices

the world is weeping
tears are a catalyst for thoughts and prayers that
evaporate quickly

was it kierkegaard who said

prayer does not change god
it changes the one who prays

it could be that too few are
seeking and praying for peace

Paul Cech has been writing poetry since 1970. Several of his poems have been published as Saturday Poems in the Pittsburgh- Post Gazette and the Thomas Merton Center of Pittsburgh has published several of his poems in NewPeople. Read other articles by Paul.