A recent assignment in my Psalms class was to write a prayer in the style of a Psalm. This is what I came up with.
A Psalm of Luke, lamenting the derision of the poor.
Lord, you are the God of mercy;
Enact justice for your poor.
How long, O Lord?
How long will your people despise your poor?
A wicked man spits on the traveler
And your people ignore the beggar
They despise the desperate drunk
And fear the frenzied madman.
Your poor trod the thoroughfares,
looking for sanctuary to lay their head,
seeking a place to rest their feet,
but they find no respite and are turned out to the streets.
They pitch their tents among your trees
but the wicked slash or burn them.
They sit in the public places
but are told to move along.
The streets cry out in weariness;
The sidewalks scream in anger.
Is there no place for your poor O Lord?
Must they wander forever?
Soften the hearts of the people O Lord
Open them to your call for kindness
Throw open the doors of their homes
Put their stoves to work making soup
Make their living rooms a place of refuge
Drive them to know and share your hospitality.
Lord, you are the God of mercy;
Enact justice for your poor.
