Legacies Poem by Morgan Michaels

His sister was a painter in San Jose-
objets d'art, beaux arts, such-like stuff
all her life she pursued her dream
stubbornly cranking out creditable work
which, sadly, never sold, but piled up
leaving her fatherless boys (life is unfair)
art-rich, but, sadly, cash-bereft
till, finally, she phoned her kind, industrious brother;

His brother was a missionary in Honduras
divorced, he preaches the Testament to wormy kids
both the Old and its splendid fulfillment, the New:
that is his job- he credits every word
and doesn't mind leaving his four girls poor.
Admirable, sure, but suddenly taken ill
and loath not to tap one denied heaven's grace,
he, too, phoned his kind, industrious brother;

Fine to pursue grandiose, ambitious schemes
Fine to pitch God's Word to ignorants
Fine to leave your many children poor
Fine to persecute what you hate and envy so
Fine, fine, fine, fine, fine,
on condition that the dream be genuine,
that you've a trust to freely resource
or a kind, industrious brother to lean upon.