Prayers for peace
rose up in many tongues
from the congregation
gathered round a new pole
hewn by parishioner hands
emblazoned with words
words of peace
written, spoken,
murmured aloud
Proclaimed,
in eight languages
Hopeful prayers, repeated
shared by the congregants
by the members and friends
rejoined after summer's allure
of the road, camps, the water
renewing friendship
in the community of faith
welcoming others, some for
the first time
with hopeful words of peace
on a day before
we memorialize
innocents lost
in mindless hate
'May PEACE prevail on Earth.'