Call Sign Chaos

by Jim Mattis

French “Paratrooper’s Prayer”:

I bring this prayer to you, Lord, For you alone can give What one cannot demand from oneself. Give me, Lord, what you have left over, Give me what no one ever asks of you. I don’t ask you for rest or quiet, Whether of soul or body; I don’t ask you for wealth, Nor for success, nor even health perhaps. That sort of thing you get asked for so much That you can’t have any of it left. Give me, Lord, what you have left over, Give me what no one wants from you. I want insecurity, strife, And I want you to give me these Once and for all. So that I can be sure of having them always, Since I shall not always have the courage To ask you for them.