she prays

she prays a lot

feels all she’s got

to change her lot

sadly

and radio gospel

being screamed

it just sounds mean

frankly

praying for miracles

one-stop cures

for living the same life

daily

desperate to change me

insists i start praying

only jesus is going to

save me

intentions heartfelt

but her home is awash

with habitual mayhem

disharmony

‘cause nothing but prayer

desperate grasping at air

will get you nowhere

most assuredly 

and why must i pray

when i strive everyday

to live this brief life

mindfully 

while she prays a lot

certain it’s all she’s got

ignoring the truth of it

blindly

but i take it in stride

got nothing to hide

and nothing to prove

really

I’ll lend a kind ear

bear laughter through tears

be a friend being me

quite naturally

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Author: Anne Celano Frohna

I have been writing for as long as I could hold a pencil in hand and would not feel complete without it. And I actually made a meager living at it (and as an editor) for 25 years. I worked for newspapers and magazines, in graphic arts and advertising, and wrote several local history books. But I have also taught English in Japan, been a Nanny/family chef in Italy, worked in and for museums, was an Airbnb Superhost for four years, as well as an Etsy shop owner, where I sold vintage items I found over the years at thrift stores and yard sales. After moving to Arizona with my family in 2010, I completed a series of different writing projects, including two books of creative non-fiction: Just West of the Midwest: a comedy (Based on journals I kept during my two years as an English teacher in rural Japan.) Within Close Range: short stories of an American Childhood (Short stories and poems about growing up as the middle of five children in suburban Chicago.) But in the past few years, I have found my voice in poetry. I am a mother of two wonderful girls, Eva (26) and Sophia (24) and wife to one wonderful husband, Kurt. In 2023, with our girls grown and off on their own, my husband and I packed up our things and moved to the tip of Italy’s heel, to the Salento region, where I continue to work on my poetry, as well as a new fiction project, and indulge in my passion for mosaics - all of which you can view on my Instagram page @ acfrohna.