I am struggling with this poem. What about the ending? the lines ending with who... like it? not?
Late August Prayer
Dear Jesus,
Please look after the students who
live in dorms and off-campus housing—
the young women who
look like lost girls
but add giddiness and color to campus,
the young men who
wear backpacks
and look for dreams.
Help them—those who
study long into the night, those who
don’t know how to start a conversation
but text at high speeds, those who
wear earbuds
looking down as they walk
in-between classes, those who
learn better with noise,
and those who
desperately need sleep.
I’m a mother.
Jesus, if I’m not a lost cause,
make me more of a parent who
lets go of hovering,
even though my instinct says
my son needs help in reading danger signs.
Let me be like a robin who
nudges her babies out of the nest,
wishing them adventure and joy.
Let me spend my time
fluffing my own empty nest.
Jesus, let me smile as my son
spreads his wings,
finds water, fruit, bread, friends.
Mainly, help me to stay out of the way.
Amen.
Late August Prayer
Dear Jesus,
Please look after the students who
live in dorms and off-campus housing—
the young women who
look like lost girls
but add giddiness and color to campus,
the young men who
wear backpacks
and look for dreams.
Help them—those who
study long into the night, those who
don’t know how to start a conversation
but text at high speeds, those who
wear earbuds
looking down as they walk
in-between classes, those who
learn better with noise,
and those who
desperately need sleep.
I’m a mother.
Jesus, if I’m not a lost cause,
make me more of a parent who
lets go of hovering,
even though my instinct says
my son needs help in reading danger signs.
Let me be like a robin who
nudges her babies out of the nest,
wishing them adventure and joy.
Let me spend my time
fluffing my own empty nest.
Jesus, let me smile as my son
spreads his wings,
finds water, fruit, bread, friends.
Mainly, help me to stay out of the way.
Amen.