The Things I See

By Dorothy Riggs McCall

Gaze through my eyes

And you will see

That things ain’t always as they should be.

Notice that Sunday preacher,

With his back-turned collar,

Tuning up for a real loud holler.

“Ain’t the Lord alright?” is his favorite phrase.

Later he’s flirtin with the voluptuous Ms. Mays.

See that Deacon,

Been in church all his life,

It’s a shame he can’t stop beatin his wife.

Peep the teenaged boy,

Been raised like he should,

But the truth is, he just ain’t no good.

He prays the loveliest prayers in Sunday school,

come nightfall he’ll sling dope at an attempt to be kool.

Observe that college girl,

Book smart and pretty just the same,

Come June she’ll have a child

Under her maiden name.

Look at that old mother,

Her name is Widow Dunkin.

She’s seventy-six years old

and her heart’s still pumpin,

Her selective ailments,

flare up when church doors open,

yet, she can go to the casino

to toss a chip or a token.

The things I see

Come as quite a surprise,

All these good folks

Contributing to the world’s demise.

*   *   *   *   *

And she digs ChickenBones: "I really enjoy ChickenBones.  I am always overwhelmed by the enormous talent represented.