Betting on prayer

Betting on prayer      

I grew up impoverished.
After many years, I noticed

innumerable jewels  
lay scattered at my feet.

Yet, I remained poor because,
I refused to take off my boxing gloves

long enough to scoop them up.  
So years later –

with great effort and daring –    
I took off the gloves. 

Yet, I remain poor because,
most of the jewels proved to be paste.

Now my naked heart and hands
are folded in prayer, which may, also,

be mostly paste -- we shall see –
but, what great treasure

has a poor man to lose anyway
betting on prayer?

O child of God, veils within and without
obscure the treasure of infinite worth.