Poetry Wednesday, Vol. 73 (the sorry it's so late version)

The boys and I spend a small part of our Tuesday afternoons waiting for sisters to go through Religious Ed. It's a short time, but in the cold of winter, when I've forgotten gloves and hats so they can't play on the playground because their fingers freeze in a matter of seconds, it is a really long time. We spend the time eating some type of snack and listening to an audio book. Yesterday we began listening to a book of 100 Bible Songs for Children. It was a Christmas gift from Ken and Esme and the boys were anxious to "get alistenin", as the Mikey said.

We bopped along, singing Who Built the Ark?, We are Climbing Jacob's Ladder, and Jesus Loves Me. But then we arrived at this old gospel song. It was given the same treatment as the other songs, a boppy, drum-machine beat with loud sinthesizer accompaniment. Chirpy kids voices and all, there was no way this song could be sad. And we sang along and suddenly I was crying. Not small tears rolling down the cheeks, but great, gut-wrenching sobs. The poor boys stopped singing and just stared at their crazy mama. For the past couple of days I had been feeling terribly sorry for myself. For reasons that are entirely small and meaningless now, but I was wallowing for all I was worth in my sadness. Oh woe is me, my life is so difficult! It is embarrassing to admit, but there it is. So hum the song, and remember to pray for me. please.



Chorus:
It's me, it's me, oh Lord
Standing in the need of prayer;
It's me, it's me, oh Lord
Standing in the need of prayer.

Not my mother, not my father
But it's me, oh Lord
Standing in the need of prayer.

Chorus:
It's me, it's me, oh Lord
Standing in the need of prayer;
It's me, it's me, oh Lord
Standing in the need of prayer.

Not my brother, not my sister
But it's me, oh Lord
Standing in the need of prayer.

Chorus:
It's me, it's me, oh Lord
Standing in the need of prayer;
It's me, it's me, oh Lord
Standing in the need of prayer.

Not my elder, not my leader
But it's me, oh Lord
Standing in the need of prayer.

Chorus:
It's me, it's me, oh Lord
Standing in the need of prayer;
It's me, it's me, oh Lord
Standing in the need of prayer.

Chorus:
It's me, it's me, oh Lord
Standing in the need of prayer;
It's me, it's me, oh Lord
Standing in the need of prayer.

Not the preacher, not the sinner
But it's me, oh Lord
Standing in the need of prayer.

Chorus:
It's me, it's me, oh Lord
Standing in the need of prayer;
It's me, it's me, oh Lord
Standing in the need of prayer.