Sanctify [rev] Poem by Margaret Alice Second

Should anyone dare to interrupt my serious task
of checking a list of scientific terms, I’m ready to
react with self-righteous indignation; I’ll interrupt
conversations, rest legs on the desk, as a stand-
up translator my feet feel sore - but not a single
soul breaks my concentration or shifts my focus

I have to do it all by myself, digging for intrusive
emails - nothing - hunting for shocking events -
nothing - left to the celestial resignation of ages
I go on BUT checking without playing is boring;
Maria Callas singing Bach over and over until I
change to the Skaters’ Waltz - yet even these

Amusements lose their attraction, time’s slowing
down, if only I could work in the empty moments,
use every second preciously - if only something
would appear so I could ignore it & demonstrate
my conscientiousness; what’s the use of ethics
if not to impress our fellow human beings - how

Can I ignore a raw fact that nothing is happening,
how demonstrate dedication to passive checking
jobs if nothing offends to test & sanctify my very
steadfast resolution…