5/24/2004

Enough
uncut diamonds
filling
my cupped hands
to overflowing
changed my
station in life
from poor
to
a little rich
after appropriating
on my own initiative
less than
the rule of thumb
finder’s fee
before turning over
the remaining fortune
I had stumbled upon
to its rightful owners
located
at my own expense
perhaps a crime
even knowing
had I kept
buried
or
thrown them away
those who had
lost track
of their belongings
would have nothing
and
having reached an age
that
makes it impossible
to believe there is
a natural gratitude
in man
it seemed more right
than amiss
rewarding myself
for services rendered
including
a modest tariff
of guilt
and the discomfort
that would accompany
any questions
with regard to
the missing stones
I know nothing about
not
an unreasonable price
to pay
for transcendence.