Blessed Are . . .(Psalm 25:16 )

THE OLD MAN PUT THE BIBLE DOWN

AND COUNTED THE PICTURES ON THE WALL

AND STRAIGHTENED THE BED AND DRESSER TOP

THOUGH NOTHING WAS AWRY

HE PACED THE FLOOR AND COUNTED THE STEPS

AND COUNTED THE PICTURES ON THE WALL

GREW TIRED OF SILENCE AND TURNED THE RADIO ON

GREW TIRED OF NOISE

AND TURNED IT OFF

AND COUNTED THE MINUTES

AND PICTURES ON THE WALL

HE PICKED UP THE BIBLE AND CHECKED AGAIN

A BEATITUDE FOR THE POOR OR SAD OR LOWLY

BUT NONE FOR THE LONELY

NONE FOR THE LONELY

THE OLD MAN PUT THE BIBLE DOWN

AND COUNTED THE PICTURES ON THE WALL

STRAIGHTENED THE BED AND DRESSER TOP

TURNED ON THE RADIO TURNED IT OFF

AND COUNTED THE PICTURES ON THE WALL

FRANK A VOLLMER