It’s not that the time I’ve spent on this Earth so far
Has been wholly without its bright spots, mind you,
But I must say that had it all been left to me,
I would much rather have done the work
Of making bigger differences in this world
Than the world seems to want made.
Indeed, all the want ads I find
Seem to fit quite properly
Under the Small Differences category.
And I’ve gotta tell you:
I can do small―
And do it fairly well for a time―
But it’s not my forte.
I can be your cashier, but don’t expect me
To be captivated by the job, for my world’s
A lot bigger than that,
Just outside your glass doors,
There’s a whole world in great need
Of things they don’t have―
Matters of the soul and the mind
That I’ve been studying for decades―
And I have not yet given up on the dream
Of making a substantial difference out there.
But I do also have to eat.
