Once, I looked across the distance,
It had the makings of an age-old civilization,
Intrigued, I saw two people walking,
they created another kind of distraction.
Maybe it was the girl, or was it the boy who followed behind,
quietly, maybe hoping the girl wouldn’t turn back,
Shy and awkward, I sensed he wouldn’t know how to react,
if she saw him for the first time.
Would she scowl at the stranger that he was to her?
After a while,
He walked away from her shadow,
and turned his attention to a magnificent cathedral,
an architect of empowerment, of truth and silent worship,
Would there be one to listen to his silent voice of yearning?
In that cathedral, a vision.
I saw him walk inside the building, get down on his knees,
And bow in reverence,
He did seem like he had the world on his shoulders,
Or perhaps he believed that prayers are always answered.
I wondered if he knew that there were countless that went unanswered,
Like the time someone asked for peace, another for sanity,
for love, for kindness, or the time when someone prayed for safe harbour.
When I saw him leave the cathedral grounds,
He had the look of serenity, I wanted so badly to know why,
Perhaps he believed that his voice would rise above the praying rest,
Perhaps he believed that he would be blessed in his prayers, unlike the rest.
-SHOBANA GOMES
Shobana Gomes lives in sunny Malaysia. She believes that poetry is a culmination of heart and soul. Therein she finds her peace and inspiration. She advocates that life is a gift and believes that every person has a right to freedom. You can follow her on her social media pages or visit her at Shobana’s Book Station to read her work.
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Chewers & Masticadores // Editora: Nolcha Fox 
Shobana’s poem is a beautiful explanation of faith and the powerful role it plays in prayers. There are countless souls expressing their wishes to that supreme power that no one has seen or heard but still pervades the mind, heart, and spirit. Most often it’s an individual’s belief that makes them feel that their prayers are being answered. Let’s usher in this optimism to our daily lives. Where there’s a will, there’s always a beautiful path waiting to be discovered.
Congratulations Shobana!
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Thank you, Terveen, for the publication and the lovely comment. It is true how we seek peace in any way we can. Especially, through troubled times. Take care my friend.
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So many behaviours are learnt..yet prayer seems a most innate practice..the cry of the soul, communicating with it’s source. I believe we have it a definition. As the deer thirsts after the water so my soul longs after you.. poetic way of saying, the soul craves it’s maker. It’s a relationship we have yet to fully understand… A duality within us, that is us. I loved this Shobana. 💙💙🙌
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Dear Shobana, such a lovely piece of poetry. How you put this subject and question before us so very creatively. A very creative piece that comes with a question. Your beautiful piece took me to the times of my youth when I talked to God out loud all the time because I felt Him always with me. Perhaps because I grew up the way I did, I was used to God saving my life with prayer. As I get older, sometimes I find myself praying but going through the motions rather than thinking about God in heaven listening to and talking to me. Thank you for this beautiful piece of writing Shobana.
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