Prayer for the Children of Longing

“grant us the clarity of ice the comfort of snow”

insight, how to cope, emanates prayer, plead with gov realise reality

“the scream, the siren, the knock on the door”

destroys lives, trauma, first use of punctuation, harrowing truth

“the needle in the track the knife in the back”

harsh rhyme, slang, drugs rampent, lack of justice and action

“the streets that defeated them that brought them to their knees”

personification, supposed to be their home, laments their suffering, melancholy

“the streets that blew their minds […] that promised them everything that delivered nothing”

false promise, chasing high, world of potential and excitement, led astray, reality of addiction not glamorous

“let their names be the song of the river let their names be the holiest prayers”

remember for who are not addiction, pray for their souls, may find heaven, restore dignity

“here at the heart of winter here at the heart of the city”

repitition of refrain, comfort, soothing, community, stronger together, lack punctuation memory lives on prayer continues