Poems & Prayers

McConaughey introduces this section by saying that people need the “courage” to go “one more step before you quit” (71) to go deeper into their relationships and to be more faithful to themselves and to God. 

Some of the poems in this section address the difficulty and necessity of self-actualization. “Carve and Burn” encourages personal transformation, emphasizing the need to separate what is valuable and useful from what is not. “It is healthy for the soul” suggests that pain is necessary for progress.

Several poems urge the importance of belief in the face of an uncaring and sometimes hostile world. “The universe is designed to kill us” takes the view that not only is life hard, but it is also designed that way. As a result, peace can only come from God. “I have faith in what I believe I could,” is a plea for faith, confidence, and courage. “Good Rebel” is a prayer, asking God that we may express his will in all that we do and have the courage to seek his love until the time when we meet him in person.

Other poems are concerned with individual morality. “Good Man” explains the difference between a “nice guy” and a “good man”: The latter stands for certain ideals and beliefs.