A Poem and Three Prayers by Michael Leunig

Michael Leunig was an Australian cartoonist and poet. In 1999, he was declared a National Living Treasure by the National Trust of Australia. Here’s one of his classic poems and three of his brief, beloved prayers. For more, check out his collection, A Common Prayer: A Cartoonist Talks to God.

There are only two feelings.
Love and fear.
There are only two languages.
Love and fear.
There are only two activities.
Love and fear.
There are only two motives,
two procedures, two frameworks,
two results.

Love and fear.

Love and fear.

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God help us to change.
To change ourselves and to change our world.
To know the need for it.
To deal with the pain of it.
To feel the joy of it.
To undertake the journey without understanding the destination.
The art of gentle revolution.

Amen.

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God, help me to live slowly
To move simply
To look softly
To allow emptiness
And to let the heart create for us.

Amen.

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God give us rain when we expect sun.
Give us music when we expect trouble.
Give us tears when we expect breakfast.
Give us dreams when we expect a storm.
Give us a stray dog when we expect congratulations.
God play with us, turn us sideways and around.

Amen.

+ Michael Leunig