The Salesman
He is just a normal person
Except when he sees a quarry
Then he resets his face in a hurry
His eyes are warm n beckoning
And he is ready for a reckoning.
He extols the virtues of his product
Or be it his services by his sunny conduct
Waxing poetic in his aggressive sales pitch
Convincing and cajoling till the last ditch
Till none is clear what’s what and which is which!
Once he succeeds in selling an item
He is home free reverting to his usual pattern
Having earned a hefty amount in commissions
He is relaxed n ready for his next sales mission
His face like silly putty due to constant sales renditions
Occasionally when it rains, it pours
And he makes a killing in a sales galore
Other times it is totally dry and arid
Leaving him downcast and quite livid
Yet he ploughs on and on as he is married
The spirit of the salesman seesaws all the time
As his pockets may be flush or without a dime
His sales life is dependent upon his age and agility
So he packs it in tightly to accelerate his salability
Not once worrying about his health or longevity
Thus a salesman whose life is no picnic is a hero
When producers want to know what the public wants, they graph it as curves. When they want to tell the public what to get, they say it in curves.
Author: Marshall Mcluhan 1911-1980, Canadian Communications Theorist
Nobody dast blame this man. For a salesman, there is no rock bottom to the life. He don’t put a bolt to a nut, he don’t tell you the law or give you medicine. He’s a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back — that’s an earthquake. And then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and you’re finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory.
Author: Arthur Miller 1915-, American Dramatist
Originally Published: December 23, 2001
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Pain
It has become one of my dearest friends
In fact we are friends from times immemorial…
I cannot pinpoint the exact moment
But it sure was uncomfortable
Floating in the amniotic fluid
And then being cut loose n rudely slapped
On my so very tiny and tender bottom!
Next I crept and crawled in all sorts
Of places in a spirit of adventure
Hurting myself in the process and
Was painfully poked by well-meaning hands
Thus reacquainting myself with my friend!
My teen years were also ignoble
My body had a mind of its own
Much to my consternation and grief
And the unkind remarks passed
By peers and family were quite painful.
Coming of age was another milestone
I had to leave the nest and fend for myself
Fumbling and bungling finally led me
To my first job where I had to jump hoops
To prove my worth Oh so painfully!
Now I have found my equilibrium and family
But my dear friend drops in quite frequently
As pleasure and pain are but the two sides
Of the same coin which is life and one
Invariably follows the other relentlessly!
Old age is no picnic n brings ailments
You are often alone and helpless
It is pretty much painful to move around
Yet you manage counting your days
Praying incoherently but consistently!
Yes, pain is my dear friend
Much loved and embraced fondly….
We can endure an extra pound of pain far more easily than we can suffer the withdrawal of an ounce of accustomed pleasure.- Sydney J Harris
Originally Published: December 21, 2001
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Prayer II
Thou art the ocean
I am but a droplet
Longing to be one
With you O Lord
Thou art the mother
I am but a child
Do not wean me
From you O lord
Thou art the shepherd
I am but a lamb
Kindly keep watch
Over me O Lord
Thou art the sun
I am but a sunflower
Dependent upon you
For my being O Lord
Thou art the gardener
I am but a wee bloom
Needing your tender
Loving care O Lord
Thou art the Milky Way
I am but a tiny star
Let thy light shine
Over me O Lord
Thou art the mighty oak
I am just an acorn
Aspiring to be one
With you O Lord
Thou art all in all
Omnipotent, omnipresent
Do not forget me and
Do not forsake me O Lord!
A grandfather was walking through his yard when he heard his granddaughter repeating the alphabet in a tone of voice that sounded like a prayer. He asked her what she was doing. The little girl explained: “I’m praying, but I can’t think of exactly the right words, so I’m just saying all the letters, and God will put them together for me,
because He knows what I’m thinking.”
Charles B. Vaughan
Originally Published: December 21, 2001
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A Prayer
When I am down and out
Please give me strength to get up
When I am ill in mind and body
Let thy benevolence wash over me
When I am testy and short-tempered
Grant me patience and equanimity
When I am greedy and avaricious
Make me satisfied and content
When I am petty and miserly
Make me generous and giving
When I hoard and amass things
Teach me to share and let go
When I am depressed and sad
Let thy light shine over me
When a helping hand is needed
Teach me to give succor and aid
They say love begets love
I know it is not easy to love
Some are easy to love
Some are easy to hate
So please grant me the will
To love all creatures great or small
Rich or poor, ill or in good health
In all conditions, in all weathers
Let me be surrounded by love!
Courage is fear that has said its prayers.
Maya Angelou
US author & poet (1928 – )
Originally Published: December 19, 2001
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Talisman
back of palm was scintillating
index finger boasted huge diamond
middle one sported a metal ring
ring finger had a modest gold band
thumb had an intricate magnetic ring
little pinky was bare forlorn
owner of this magnificent hand
By virtue of these baubles
Had firm illusions of grandeur
Of being protected by their power
From problems big or small
Such was his profound belief
That when things went awry
gentleman was quite sorry
His bafflement ever so complete
Amazed at his so-called defeat
That his rings were bereft of magic
He went to the soothsayer
Flung his rings in despair
Cried your talisman works not
And my money has come to naught
My life is as before unchanged flat
I can really do nothing more than that
Life is as you make of it
When we will ourselves to change
The talisman will also work
doors will open wide
people will be receptive
And world will be our oyster!
Originally Published: December 7, 2001
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