by Ed Shacklee
O Thou, who looks both ways through every gate,
Who makes my well-intentioned path seem straight,
Who forked the subtle serpent's silver tongue,
And took away my spine when I was young,
I praise Thee, Lord, who with two faces smiled
Upon Thy faithful, ever faithless child.
Ed Shacklee is a public defender who represents young people in the District of Columbia. His poems have appeared in 14 by 14, The Flea, The Raintown Review and Shot Glass Journal, among other places.
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