My God, My Friend (A poem of gratitude, a prayer)

(I thank you…)

Thank you, my friend— 
I woke today, 
and I could breathe, 
I could see through my eyes, 
I could feel my back 
against my bedding. 
Ah, my bedding— 
another of the blessings 
I thank you for. 
There is my clothing, too, 
the roof that covers me, us, 
my home, day after day. 
My possessions are yours— 
the ones I toiled 
day and night for, 
as the ones I worked 
little to nothing for. 
I look around me in the morning, 
and I see you, 
and my heart fills with joy, 
and appreciation. 
Thank you, my friend. 

My friend, you know, 
I did not think of you so much 
as a friend, sometime before. 
I knew I did not exist 
spontaneously, 
or without reason, purpose. 
I knew I did not wake me 
every morning that I rose. 
I knew I did not make the sun 
shine, as beautifully as it does, 
nor did I make the stars twinkle 
and the moon glow 
in the dark of night—I knew it. 
I knew I did not move the wind, 
nor did I summon the rains, 
thunders, lightings, and waves. 
I watched the birds fly 
and loved their beautiful melodies, 
I watched my pup reason and learn, 
I watched a baby crawl and learn 
and grow into a person, 
I watched a tree sprout 
from a seed: 
I always knew, 
I was only one of the marvels 
of this beautiful universe. 
I knew 
I did not make life possible, 
nor did I make the impossible 
seem and be possible. 
I knew my little heart, 
and I knew my soul, 
and I knew my mind— 
I knew I am only human, 
and to be one 
means some limitations. 
We exist, we exist, and we live. 
That we do 
is a mystery we may never solve, 
and a blessing we ought not 
take for granted, 
as we often do. 

I call you My Friend 
because you have been there for me 
through my living days— 
my hard and good times. 
You have been there for me, 
even when I did not think of you. 
And the times I have thought of you, 
and called out to you, 
you have come through for me. 
You have pulled me out 
of the darkest pits, 
and I have often taken refuge 
in you. 
You are a safe haven 
for all souls that come to you. 
I know I have not been 
the best of friends, 
and I know 
I have been stubborn, 
among my million other failings. 
And I remember all the times 
I have strayed from you. 
But for this life 
you yet bless me with, 
this very second, as I pen this piece, 
I thank you. 
Thank you, my friend. 
You have been true, my friend, 
and I know you always will be. 
I only hope to see your face, 
someday, when I come home. 

©benielangat, 2021. 

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Photo by Gilmer Diaz Estela from Pexels