March 2018
Sonia Greenfield 
sonia.greenfield@gmail.com
I live in Hollywood with my husband, son, and dogs. I co-direct the Southern California Poetry Festival, and I edit the Rise Up Review, which is dedicated to poems of opposition. When I'm not working on either of those, I'm writing poems (obviously), taking my destructive German Shepherd puppy to the dog park, reading the New Yorker, doing the NYT crossword, or advocating for my brilliant, beautiful son, who is on the spectrum. I'm 47 years old and still trying to figure out the meaning of life. When I'm not frozen by existential angst, I'm building up my vita at soniagreenfield.com.

​Lord's Prayer

​
dear lord
please grant me a spot
in the sand
on a Tunisian beach
with water so blue
it makes my eyes ache
and tiny crabs
that tickle the length
of my legs
but never pinch
and a novel
in my hands
about a woman
whose regrets match mine
but who finds contentment
on a swatch of beach
in Tunisia
where she reads of sadness
much like her own
yet moves on
dear lord
all I ask for
is a dog who will live forever
one who will rescue my only son
from wells
from the waves
of an ocean that cares little
for what it sucks in
or spits out
from the spiteful girlfriend
who breaks his five
prized possessions
because the boy could never
sniff out her cruel streak
dear lord
please let me finally
write the one poem
that will bring peace
to the Middle East
oh lord
I ask these
simple things of you
here in an American town
far from a Tunisian beach
my best dog dead
almost a year
and my child
only as tangible as hard sun
on unfeeling waves
where the glare
brings tears to my eyes
as I ask for your mercy
amen

(Previously appeared in Mom Egg, which is print only)
©2018 Sonia Greenfield 
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