A prayer for the Thirteen
To all the gods and none. To all those who may give solace to those who died, we pray now. May any who may be listening, hear these prayers.
The Elements
We give thanks to those who gave us the elements. Those who fell in the Sphere of Five were held fast, to the ever turbulent call of nature.
A Prayer to Mumbai
To the city of earth, the churning ground,
Ageless, unchanging, yet new
The folly that this land found
Showed strength, and virtue was their due
A Prayer to Rome
To the city of fire, city of red
Twice blessed to rule the earth
In fire it was born, in fire it bled
In fire it found its worth
A Prayer to Tokyo
To the city of air, not of flight
Honor was the land’s core
The Folly came, and in its light
They died, but still they soar.
A Prayer to Sydney
To the city of water, return
A city that could forgive
Past sins were gone, would not burn
Be an example again, relive.
A Prayer to New York
To the city of iron, structures tall
The first of the new land
Forged in war, when fires fall
They made the final stand.
The Directions
We pray today in all directions, so that all who have fallen can be seen, felt, and answered.
A Prayer to Beijiing
Look to the East, the Risen Sun
To those who once held sway
We give thanks those who had begun
The journey, and gave light to day.
A Prayer to Johannesberg
Look to the South, in blackened ash
The flames that beat the earth
To those who had no hand in this clash
May you find a resting hearth
A Prayer to Los Angeles
Look to the west, onset of Night
Second city to the second land
For those who once made future bright
And died with promises in hand
A Prayer to Moscow
Look to the North, the Frozen time
Unbent, defiant to the last
To those whose heart heard not the chime
As they faded towards the past
The Body of the World
A prayer to the measures of each man, woman and child who fell. Let the merits of these bodies be examples to us now.
A Prayer to London
To those who led with reasoned mind
Calloused from the whims of heart
Towards magic, they may be blind
But their feats shall not depart
A Prayer to Rio de Janeiro
To those who moved with passion
With open hearts and love
We show our thanks for their compassion
To all who felt wrath from above.
A Prayer to Jerusalem
This, above all, held the sway
Beyond reason, rhyme and song
The gods have returned, here to stay
We confirm, you were never wrong
And always the unknown, though Never there.
A last repose, a final care.
Gods, Goddesses, those who give aid.
Grant us this mercy, this we pray.
copyright 2016 Jack Holder