Proprietary Property
Proprietary property is what I saw in there,
Six layers of protection, though the box was almost bare,
Except one slip of paper with some self-talk on one side,
Which said, "It's looking good, kid" where his money did reside.First layer was the document which let me act for him;
And then I proved identity; two keys; a safe within;
Two ladies hovered, tensely ’round, excitement rippled through
Their veins, or was that danger in what they were going to do.As front-line of defence they had been coached to careful be:,
"You mess this up and you'll be fired, just try, and you will see;
For property protection is what boxes are to do,
And people are the weakest link – so weakest link is you."The women quaked down to their toes, beyond their comfort zone,
They wished that they had not been there, had been sick in bed at home;
You'd think they faced a robber with a mask, a note, and gun –
"Just put the money in the sack, no bells or you'll be done"."Why would that be?" I wondered to myself, (with nothing there)
He'd said as much, "It empty is (except the note), it's bare);
But they were extra cautious, quite discreet, I must admit,
As though in there were precious jewels, whatever else would fit.I checked it out, retrieved the note, to scan it off to him;
I paid it out, and closed it down, no contents left within;
With empty box, the ladies must breathe easier tonight,
To know there's less for them to watch – it gave them such a fright.If I'd been old and grizzled, with some scruffy, dirty clothes,
And looked the part of homeless man, or some such one as those,
A taint of liquor on my breath, and shifty, sullen eyes,
Out there in plush suburbia, they’d think I proffered lies.But then again, the power in my papers was the thing
They couldn't touch, so they would sweat, then to their boss they'd sing;
Though their position trumps my looks, the papers holds the might –
A situation such as that would give them quite a fright.That says to me that property's regarded highly there;
To light out in the darkest night, like to a candle flame –
It goes far back in history, for it these people care –
To get my papers, first a lawyer then a judge signed off,
"Proprietary" is the word, which rises like a moth –
(To hold with certain stewardship) – "for what is mine I came
Don't mess with me and what I own or you will take the fall –
These symbols of prosperity are valued most of all."For wages at a minimum these women labour there;
Their bosses up the line are rich, protected from such care;
That says so much about these folks and their society –
Proprietary property – core value one can see.Because of that they'll go to war, defend it with their guns;
They hold to strict accounting, lots of people doing sums;
"On judgment day they'll be a time of reconciling all
Resources held in stewardship, backdated to the fall."I find it funny, watching this, now, after cancer's scare,
(And hearing now of someone else whose journey's headed there);
These guys are nuts, it matters not, why, daily millions die
For lack of food and water, carry on with shattered sigh.I think there will accounting be, but not what I described;
I know Christ said, "To such a one as these" – "For them I died";
"If you'll a cup of water give"; "Whatever's needed there";
"You do it unto me, my friend"; and "Thus express my care".For in the larger scheme of things, it's not about the cash,
Or all the goods within your box, your precious little stash;
It's more about the planet, and the people living there,
About the falling leaves, the warming sun, and chilly air;About the laughter and the tears, frustrations, triumphs, joys;
Of course it's nice to have those things – computers, tools, and toys –
But don't lose sight of precious things like life of which you're part
Proprietary property ranks second in the heart.When I stand back and think about the note I found there –
The note of self-encouragement – did anybody care?
Or at the time at which he wrote, was he out there alone?
That's what I mean – what's piles of cash, when you're away from home?For several years that little note laid silent in the box;
He paid a fee to keep it safe beneath those layered locks;
And now that I've retrieved it, and I ponder it tonight,
I smile – for in its words, I know this man has got it right.For money is a tool to use, why stack in a box?
Much better to keep precious words, as through the world one walks;
For when the money is all gone, and life comes crashing down,
"It's looking good" speaks larger life, alleviates our frown.I wonder if those ladies knew what they’d protected there –
Self-talk for his encouragement, and otherwise quite bare.
I heard a burglar switched the price-tags in a clothing store,
So valued staff was very cheap, and garbage cost much more.Campolo said, "That's just like life in this society –
We've got it upside down – were nuts – can't anybody see?"
But here I see things right-side up, for they protected words
Of hope and self-encouragement, he out in life had heard.navigation