Prayer to the Patron Saint of Finishing Projects
Mary Barnard
Your identity unknown.
Perhaps yourself the victim
of an unfinished project,
a folder on the Cardinal’s desk
your almost complete dossier:
a beatific vision unalibi’ed,
an unproven proof that your miracle
done with mirrors.
Dear Uncanonized Saint FP,
Hike up your heavenly skirts
and skip back down to earth
in your Timberlakes or Wellies,
the LED glow of your caged worklight
pray let it illumine the workbench, the shed,
the cardboard box in the closet,
the sealed plastic tub under the bed.
Deliver all souls from temptation
of the new, at the end of your name day
only this, the italicized sigh of one word
Done!