Twigs (James 2:8; 2 Thessalonians 3:10)

I’m gathering some dried up twigs all bunched up in my hand,
To which, when gathered, I’ll apply a match, and then I’ll fan
The flames until it catches, then I’ll lay it on the ground,
And shuffle back and add some fuel, whatever’s lying ’round.

To light a fire is easy once the principle you’ve got –
Apply the heat to bundled fuel, and hold it till it’s hot;
Of course it needs some air – not much at first until it goes –
Then add more fuel of larger types, that’s even when it snows.

For context is irrelevant to writing poetry,
Or making books, and tools to use – though stiff may be the breeze;
What matters most is take one step, then two, then three, then four;
For geometric is the curve – each step gives two times more.

Not arithmetic (one-two-three), but two to four each day;
So getting “one” in any part kick-starts you on your way;
For two times nil is nil, but one makes two, and then it’s four;
That’s how canola, puppies grow, and life produces more.

Hence “banking” – “get a start somewhere” – some “one” in such affairs;
You got a credit card to use, now “two” can come from there;
First book review; first blog remark; first book (maturing tool);
First sessions to reflect on that – beats going back to school.

What has it cost to date? The use of list one day you found;
What value has that in my hands? Explosively profound!
What’s more than that, exchange was made within commercial world
For that’s the base of enterprise – that flag has been unfurled.

Some people say that NGO’s, nonprofits, and the Feds,
Are only way to make your mark (and I don’t just mean reds);
Good business – that’s exchanging what I have for what I need –
Through use of cash-economy “is bad” – but that’s not me.

Then others “mitigate their crime” of business-life by day,
Through volunteering, penance, and by giving cash away;
I think that’s hogwash – if it’s bad, such acts don’t make it right,
Take up your hunger-list and do for cash what comes to light.

For cash lets me go purchase bread to feed my family,
So they’ll grow up and join the world and live productively;
“If one won’t work, let him not eat”, the Bible writer said;
That’s pretty clear to me, I’d say – no food and soon I’m dead.

So work and life are intertwined – oh sure, there’s problems there –
But overall, it’s “Work to eat” – exchange what you prepare,
So other folks are blessed by what you serve as daily fare;
They bless in turn by giving you some output of their care.

navigation