Numbers
Day in and day out he calculated,
added, subtracted, multiplied,
divided his clients’ wealth
in pieces, allotted some
to the fair or unfair tax man
he filled out forms, balance sheets,
statement of receivables,
invoices and depreciation
life’s depreciation when days
lessen on one column and days
in the underworld increase
dark schedule, millions of dollars
arrayed on sheets, poor man rich man
the dichotomy that people fall for
then they rise once and go beyond
the ephemeral wish of wealth
realizing no one takes it with them
when the irresistible Hades
makes his unexpected appearance,
the accountant, a poor man
in dollars, rich in his understanding
of need for food and shelter and
for the odd game recalled at times
when he didn’t eat all day only
to reach home late at night
exhausted that he could only
open a can of porky beans, his
supper, though he served his clients
well, had exemplary work habits, they
all had said at his funeral service,
to which just a few showed up.
No females attended, he hardly
had time for a woman’s body
the dutiful accountant who he was,
decided to go up to Heaven,
perhaps St. Peter would
give him the bookkeeper’s
job in the accounts of Heavenly
wealth fairly or unfairly assumed.
Manolis Aligizakis 