Alms to the Giver

The mail this morning made me
wonder if the plethora of ‘‘worthy causes’’
divides us into givers and takers.
The begging letters half-fill the
waste basket—money, money, as if
we owned a goose that laid a golden egg.
Someone is eager for our answer,
one envelope marked ‘‘Urgent,’’ two
marked ‘‘Important’’ and one ‘‘Your
Greatest Opportunity.’’ Such concern
should puff me up until I notice
an enclosed envelope to make it
easy for my reply.
My vision is limited. Instead of a
multitude waiting to divide my
scant loaves and fishes, I imagine
a marvellous creature who stops
polishing her nails to open my letter
and when the check spills out she calls,
‘‘Hey, Bert, another sucker bit the dust.’’