Do you hear the singing?

It is a prayerful song.

It sings to give you happiness,

A knowing you belong.

And under it a cursing voice

(It sings a different song.)

It comes to bring you grave distress;

It whispers, “All is wrong.”

A stubborn, grasping voice this other,

A sad, persistent, harsh disrupter.

It makes believe no happiness

Will ever be your own.

It mocks you when your sweet content

is gone and you’re alone.

It is not you, this voice that cries;

It is your foe, a song that lies.

It takes you down, it severs you,

With fear it blinds your eyes.

“Love is gone, gone for good!”

It sings—and something dies . . .

It must be faced, turn not away.

Turn to! Take heart, do not delay.

To stand again you must defy—

Sing out against the ploy.

Make your song not one of doubt—

Take back your prayer of joy.