A Prayer for Lebanon

On the children who've died Lord, have mercy On the parents who grieve them Lord, have mercy On the fighters who killed them Lord, have mercy On those who fear in their homes Lord, have mercy On those who fear on the roads Lord, have mercy On those who fear behind the barrel of a gun Lord, have mercy On those who wander, seeking safety and shelter Lord, have mercy On the old and the poor, who have nowhere to go Lord, have mercy On Rose, her children and grandchildren

Lord, have mercy

On Miriam, her husband, her children and grandchildren Lord, have mercy On Zaherah, her husband, her children and grandchildren Lord, have mercy On families far away that fear for their loved ones Lord, have mercy On we who watch these events with helpless grief or detachment Lord, have mercy

On those who caused this

Lord, have mercy

On those left to forgive them

Lord, have mercy

On those who suffer with a prayer on their lips

Lord, have mercy

On those whose agony steals the voice of their prayers

Lord, have mercy

When all words have been spoken and tears have been shed Lord, have mercy May your Holy Spirit intercede for us with ancient groans that our hearts could never express Lord, have mercy Christ, have mercy Lord, have mercy