MY EARNEST PRAYER

O, Lord!

Despite a great many prayers to You, we are continually losing our wars. Tomorrow we shall again be fighting a battle that is truly great. With all our might, we need Your help and that is why I must tell You something: This battle tomorrow is going to be a serious affair. There will be no place in it for children. Therefore I must ask You not to send you Son to help us.
Come Yourself.

- The prayer of Koq, leader of the Griquas tribe, before a battle with the Afrikaners in 1876

I'D BE GOD

I’d be god
When Ra kills his rage
I’d be god
Me
Of a barren skin –
Fruitless
I’d be god
No need for homoestasis
The petalled plume to wilt
Ra’s fever cured and gone
When I’m god
Then we shall merry the dark
Before Ra’s demons come again