It is a tragic truth that the average charity worker can see no difference between a world class poet working seven days a week for her society and the most degraded of pimps. Nor do they have the slightest desire to do so.

*****

Recorded Reading (2:11):

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/7me44iaa8e7ylhrh62hdq/Chary-Charity.mp3?rlkey=2fae6wj1wqkp879p183ruesq7&st=rt5r3qx1&dl=0

*****

Chary Charity

May, my friend whom I don’t know,
May you never have to go
In such abysmal poverty
That you must accept charity

Those who will to you be kind
To your value will be blind
They but condescension meant
Intended set no precedent

By which you may equal be,
But by your humility
Hold themselves super’iorly —
Do not there expect to see

Any smile you might create
A penny short, an hour late —
If effort for your gift be great
More fortunate cannot relate

Think not that you may expect
Common friendship to perfect:
What’s wanted from the likes of you
Is unending gratitude

School a glad and open face
Remembering your proper place —
For conditions substandard
By you must seem to be preferred

O’er those you’d even more abhor
They know you’ve put up with before
And so forever afterward
The ruling and ongoing word

In acertaining where life’s at
Will be, “Is it as bad as that?”
“Is it as bad as is this other
Thing we do to one another?”…

From pathetic refugee
No legitimacy see
In any preference or need —
Inconveniences, indeed

With which themselves would not put up
But fix in one fast moment, yup —
To them intolerable
Must be to you amenable

No further aspiration yours
Once you’ve made it to the shores
The very worst of tumble from
Think not you might hope to become

Ordinarily comfortable —
How will contributors be able
Entitled smugness to preserve:
Already got “all you deserve”?


*****

This poet/editor is physically disabled, and lives at a fraction of her nation’s poverty level.

Arts patrons may visit http://www.UgiftABLE.com , using code 72D-31S. It will take about two weeks for the poet to be notified of your patronage.

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