Generosity

Generosity

Whipping the injured beast to keep it working

against its own interest

so poignant; so sad.

A loving child's gift -- paper cut-out stars

to hang over your bed

but your dreams are not what 

you had hoped for.

You made this child, and 

now it is a burden,

unwashed, unkempt, 

ignorant and yet so willing to please.

You loved this woman,

and now she is too familiar.

You no longer want her looking at you

knowingly, with concern.

You want a paper cut-out romance,

a Sunday comics page life,

something safe with no sharp edges.

You want an antiseptic procedure

to cut out your heart,

replace it with a

state of the art

platinum clock.

You want truth and honor and justice

high ideals and winning hands

wrapped carefully and tied in festive ribbons

so there is no mistake

you have earned this fortune through your sacrifice

of what was never yours

to give.