Thoughts and Prayers 

By Sarah K Henderson 

Thoughts and prayers, thoughts and prayers

Thoughts and prayers to show you care

But do you try to feel

Do you try to understand

How someone feels when they lose a friend

Or when a little girl loses her father

Would you truly try to comfort her?

You see someone beaten because of their skin

Would you say they deserved if they sinned

A person embraces their true self

Do you dare say they’re going to hell? 

A shooting occurs at a school

Is it just because kids can be cruel? 

A family is caught in a house fire

Do you kneel to pray as the flames grow higher? 

A town is ravaged by the weather

Are you surprised to see them rebuild it together? 

This girl will die if she gives birth

How much do you think her life was worth

Thoughts and prayers, thoughts and prayers 

Thoughts and prayers, I hear you now

I know you think you’re helping somehow

But do you try to see

Can you try to comprehend? 

How you might feel if you were on the other end? 

If it were your friend, or your wife

Or you’re fighting for your life? 

If illness found your dad, if his heart went bad

Would thoughts and prayers help, or just make you mad?

Thoughts and prayers, thoughts and prayers

Thoughts and prayers to save a life

Maybe one day you too will finally see the light

A little about Sarah:

Sarah Henderson is a local writer, actor and director. She’s been writing in one form or another since she was a child. As a teenager she won several poetry contests and had two poems published at Canisius College. Since then she has written two short films, several short stories and several stage/audio plays. She is very grateful to have her poem included in this project. 

Submissions for the next Voices Project topic – Inspiration – are due by August 1, 2023. We hope you will consider submitting your art to us at inclusivetheaterofwny@gmail.com.