The Business Of Words Poem by Mary Angela Douglas

everywhere business is ramping up
stamping us in gold foil in or out of it
getting the cue cards right
in the right order, taking orders
deciding who's wrong and who's right
who deserves another award
for awarding someone else an award
when asked to
someone else and this is the business of words
not torn out of the notebook of the sky
not torn in half like a cruel valentine
not whispering from the grass as it freezes under snow
not the feelings you used to know
most certainly not your inimitable Soul
but down to brass tacks
who's gonna call you back
lets all be workshopped to death
and let others teach us
where the breath in the song goes on
because we let them make us
forget everything we knew
even when we were only children
mary angela douglas 16 october 2023