My Prayer-Poem for the 20th day of Lent, Monday 8 March 2021

Mimetic Theory


The Philosopher René Girard
thought intently about human life,
how we humans attack one another
desiring a house or a wife.


The object, he said, didn’t matter;
desiring what other’s may own
is “mimetic” and driven most strongly
by covetous greed overblown.


Like toddlers with mountains of toys
they ignore for the sake of a snack
as soon as one child shows an interest
the others go on the attack!


It turns out mimetic desire
was spotted before old René
by God in the final commandment
“Do not covet” by night or by day!


So Lord, here’s my Lenten reflection,
at the end of this Monday in Lent;
give me grace to resist the mimetic
and instead practise to be content.


©️Mark Andrew Smith
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