for all the Jerusalems

"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:"  Psalm 122:6

for cities where violence

is heard almost every hour

of every day and every night

and where guns seem as easy

to carry as loose change,

Lord, hear our prayers.

for suburbs and neighborhoods

where cars are stolen as easily

as packages off front porches

and 13 year-olds lead car chases

just like they have seen in videos

until they end up in situations 

and places not shown on their devices,

Lord, hear our prayers.

for rural areas where folks

cannot get broadband service,

physical or mental health care, 

but the pandemic of opioids 

is as strong as it was (if not 

worse) then when it started,

Lord, hear our prayers.

for nursing homes where 

staff is lacking and folks are 

not getting the care they need

and in costly retirement communities

where privilege masks abject 

loneliness and fears of dying,

Lord, hear our prayers.

for houses on quiet streets

in 'sought for' neighborhoods

where people abuse partners,

where children are ignored,

where fear lurks in every corner

behind shuttered windows and

in every heart behind shattered love,

Lord, hear our prayers.

(c) 2023 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman