A Person Longs To Say Poem by Mary Angela Douglas

these things happened to me

a person longs to say

and then to sit down at a reasonable table

for as long it takes to tell to tell the whole story

with maybe a sandwich and a cup of Joe

but who knows

maybe there just aren't those kind of angels among us

anymore who can stand to hear the whole thing

from beginning to end.

and not mention options.

so all those individuals have to stow it.
'
and meanwhile there is so much talk.

people go to school and talk some more

to conferences to seminars dreaming of



an impersonal self sufficiency by design



with all those folks in mind


or draw up plans for those who live out doors

to be out of the way when the tourists come to play

because they are bad for business.

every year the Christmas play. Good old Scrooge.

mankind was my business old Jacob Marley said.

too late too late when he was dead.

it still sounds sweet on stage and sentimental.

but business goes another way.

for even those who saw the play and loved it.

and charity is just to keep them out of the way

the surplus population

so others can get on with their day.

I know rich folks have their problems too;

who doesn't, who lives long enough.

still a person wants to be heard.

to say what happened to them in life

and what they tried to do.

even if the only shoes they have

are with the soles flapping.

so that people are laughing.

and the only one listening is God.

mary angela douglas 29 april 2020