Evening Prayer

Evening Prayer

an old woman's prayer went,
"dear lord,
give me comfort
from all the world's 
transgressions
against me
and help me be
a better disciple
tomorrow
than today
in spite
of all the ways
the world's slights
affect me"

the other woman's prayer
went,
"dear lord,
help me be
a better servant
tomorrow than today
transgressing less
against you,
the world
and my fellows
and give me comfort
knowing sometimes
i will err"

the differences
in their prayers 
were slight
but made
all the difference
in the world
even though both
in their own ways
were praying
to be
better