“The Ask”

I remember asking once, or was it twice? Or thrice?
(Not something I could do and still appear as very nice);
I learned that in my home from those who sought to show the way,
And still it lingers in my mind – “Don’t ask; don’t make it pay”.

Professionals they were who liked a union wage as base,
Not businessmen who had to work for wages (“in bad taste”);
The concept of exchange was taught within the family flow –
“It’s tit-for-tat; all chipping in; with equal shares we go”.

It had its ups and downs as every family on the block –
Safe haven; food and shelter; cash to help us in our walk
(Our start in life-activities and education’s bliss);
But asking? That was pushing it – much better as a gift.

I tried a business venture – two to be exact, one day –
“I’ll shovel, rake, do papers, and for that I’ll get my pay”;
We babysat a lot of kids – my sisters made a stash
(They came to us, the need was high, we never had to ask).

And then I made the business – with a cast-off printing press –
I made a tiny paper, hawked it ’round “two cents, no less”;
My mother had a fit, and shut me down – so much for that –
“Entrepreneur? Not in my house – for that you’d need to ‘ask’!

“And asking is forbidden – we don’t ask – to us it’s given;
For nastiness in life comes from the people who have striven
To make a buck – not us – for we are way above the pack;
So shut it down this minute – and don’t let me hear you ‘ask’.”

So here I am at sixty-six still saddled with that thought,
Unable to move on from here from lesson I was taught;
But I have learned that socialists are nasty in their way,
So as I come to “Giverland” I’ve now got this to say:

I think both camps have blessings, and a cursed evil side;
I think they both are full of it – both take you for a ride;
2000 – April – that’s the year I saw it as a tree –
“Draw up resource; produce some fruit; exchange to meet your needs”.

Don’t move it ’round by spraying water from the branches bare;
Don’t store it up in cisterns – no, answer isn’t there;
More like a tree – from passing brook draw water and resource;
Convert it into fruit, and then exchange it – no remorse.

That insight got me ’round the impasse of two silly groups;
I saw a way to walk the road, not use the ditches’ routes;
The folks stuck in their ditches shoot each other ’cross the “way”;
I heard from Spirit – “Walk the walk”; and “ Interact each day”.

It’s thirteen years of learning, since I stumbled on this piece;
A blockage blown to way ahead – my mother’s ways must cease;
How else can trees draw up their food and water from the brook
Of humans in this world – so, “Ask – receive” (it’s in The Book).

Enough of that – a tree I’ll take as a model for my way;
I’ll ask, “Can I exchange this fruit for daily bread?” each day;
“Abundant crops”; “The vineyard”; “Mustard seed”; and “Fruit that lasts”
Are images Christ used, to tell of Kingdom-life in past.

Let’s set the flow of fair exchange in motion from this time;
Exchange the past’s illusions from each ditch for “Tree” sublime;
It’s better as a model – keeping focus on our way –
To prosper now with righteousness – exchange each business day.

For all can ask – say “yes” or “no” – a level playing field
Within a world that’s upside down – check what each tree can yield;
“Dig ’round one year, and fertilize, then check it out for crop”,
Is what we’ve done – prepared the tree, some apples now we’ve got.

So let’s press on and run our farm – our orchard – as the way –
Draw up resource, convert it, sell the fruit and make it pay;
The tree of life is here – at hand – come on, participate
In asking for our daily bread – so fruit we can create.

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