Poem from a 1980 Poetry Page

IN ESSENCE

THERE WAS AN OLD LADY 
WHO LIVED IN A FROCK
SHE HAD SO MANY CHILDREN
SHE DID NOT HAVE STOCK

NOT STOCK DID SHE TAKE
FOR THE FROCK IT WAS FREE
NOR CHILDREN WERE SENT 
FAR AWAY FROM THEE

BUT ONCE THERE DID HAPPEN
A GENTLEMEN MAN
WHO GAVE A KIND WORD
WHO HAD A SLIGHT HAND

HIS NAME SHE BELIEVED
WAS HIGH ON THE LAND 
HE GAVE NOT CHILDREN
BUT STOCK FROM HIS HAND

ALL WAS WELL FOR A WHILE
IN MANY DAYS COME 
UNTIL THE MAN SEWED AWAY
ALL HE HAD BRUNG

HOW THE OLD LADY SAD 
IS GIVEN FOR FREE
CHILDREN FROM STOCK
FOR GENTLEMEN TO SEE

THE PLANTED SEED FLOURISHES
NOT FOR YOU AND ME
BUT FOR THOSE WHO BRING STOCK
TO THE OLD, THE CHILDREN, AND THEE. 

JUNE 27, 1980 TAMPA FLORIDA