Blessed Are . . .

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