On Closing a Ghetto Church

FATHER FORGIVE US FOR BEING POOR
FOR BEING GHETTO TRAPPED
BY BIRTH OR RACE OR AGE
OR FEAR OF COMPETITION
FOR WHICH WE ARE ILL PREPARED

FORGIVE US FOR OUR ANGER
FOR LASHING OUT
AT INNUMERABLE GNATS OF IRRITATION
THE ACID OF OUR DAILY LIVES

FORGIVE US FOR BELIEVING YOUR WORDS
THAT THE POOR
WOULD HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM

FORGIVE US FOR NOT MAKING MONEY
LIKE OTHER MISSIONS IN AFRICA
INDIA LATIN AMERICA
DO

FOR PENANCE
TAKE OUR CHURCH
AND WITH THE GAIN
ERECT A MONUMENT TO PRIDE
IN A MORE PROFITABLE PLACE

FATHER FORGIVE US FOR BEING POOR

Frank a. Vollmer