Some years ago I did an in depth study of Psalm 37 because I read that it was an anagram; the initial words of every three verses beginning with the same Hebrew letter, going through the whole alphabet. I thought that I could write a poem in this style but using words instead of letters. The initial version of my poem then read 'God in Christ and Christ in you',using the first word of the first line of each verse. Just to make it more difficult I then rewrote it so that the first words of the second lines also contained an anagram. I thought of doing the third and fourth lines also but it proved to be too difficult. I wondered if the anagrams would be noticed so I put those words in color to give a hint to their presence; that is also the reason for the irregular indentation. -- Phillip

                 Perfect Prayers

God loves the sound as perfect prayers

    Leave lips that do not move

         Not like the sacrifice of fools,

         Their eloquence to prove.

In meekness had my mouth confessed

    The lordship of my lord,

         Not self, not wealth, not twisted truth,

         No cause that I adored.

Christ is the focus of my thoughts as

    Night and day I find

         My vain imaginations now

         Are captives in my mind.

And 'cause the spirit given me, 

    Joy to my soul does bring 

         As tongues I speak, as praise I give,

         As unknown psalms I sing.

Christ in me thrives, I walk in truth, 

    In paths of righteousness. 

         To all the word obedient, 

         That he my life may bless.

In mysteries known but to him,

    God's gift I manifest, 

         My freewill choice, with inner voice,

         Not channeled or possessed.

You too can know this simple truth:

    Light flows from just one source,

         Like perfect prayers, from heart to heart,

         Through Jesus Christ, of course.

     

                           © Phillip Varady Sr.