Too Busy

“I’m far to ‘busy’ to reply to your call,

Don’t plague me nor try to hold me in thrall;

For I am ‘me’, independent of ye

So leave me alone – for apart I’d be”.

But

Alone is a place in a swirling mist

Which hides the truths which Love’s ‘You’ has kist;

For ‘I’ set ascendent is hell on wheels,

As ‘You’, your neighbour, sinks under your heels.

“What’s all this neighbourly nonsense you claim

I’m supposed to abandon my I to maintain?

That’s yesterday’s stuff, it’s a load of old guff,

We’re deep in the twenty-first century stuff”.

But

It’s ‘man with a mission’ who’s sunk neighbour’s condition,

For ‘too busy’s’ The Creed – with no inhibition;

Now the pleasures of courtesy’s ‘not my job’,

Because ‘I’ rides ascendent – so ‘You’s’ in the bog.

“I’m far too engaged to answer your text,

Whatever concerns, what the hell ever next;

I simply don’t care if you care or not,

For ‘I’ am ascendent – so don’t care a jot”.

But

Care is the sign of the Love we bring,

Care is the sign of the song we sing

To make Life a consensual endeavour;

Care is the balm which soothes our soul

Care is what joins us to make us whole;

“Yer what? 

All that crap doesn’t matter to me – I’m too busy”.

Too busy to bother, too busy to care,?

Too busy to love – as love is a snare;

For Love is our gifts of commitment we share;

“er commitment wossat?

 It’s ‘me’ thass what matters – all that blather’s ‘old hat’”.

But

Commit is to dare to show that we care

For the people about us with whom life’s made fair;

But with ‘I’ now ascendent share has died in the dust

Of Too-Busy’s rampagings and self-focused lust.

“‘Phone you back, what on earth do you mean?

I’m far too busy to engage in such scene;

 I’m playing politics’ game with the office crew

Which is far more fun – so I don’t need you”.

You’re too busy to thank for the gifts that I send?

The things that I do for you –  heaven forfend

You remark, or regard or thank or unbend

I’m  beneath your Olympian notice;

“Yer, thass it ‘cause

I is ‘I’ omnipotent, high

Apart, above, too busy to try –

I’m engaged in the business o’ livin”.

Oh really – But

Living is joining with people, in love,

Living’s engaging with people to prove

That it’s people who matter if life’s to have savour

That it’s ‘taking the trouble’ which gives life it’s flavour;

Not the pressing of buttons nor staring in screens

Ignoring the world as you ‘print-out’ the reams

Of Systems-lead trash, as your neighbour you hash

For your consequent cry – “I’m too busy”.

We’ve run out of control between pillar and post

Like flies at a window who can’t see that most

Of their energy’s spent in chaotically jetting

So people get lost in their furious fretting

Thus

Manners’ve vanished down the drain

So all that’s left is a nasty stain,

As each rides up over the other

For none of us thinking to bother.

“Yer but

Taking trouble is trouble’n strife,

There’s far more fun to be had from life;

Trouble is trouble!  can’t be fagged with all that

Trouble for me is a load of old scat”.

But

Taking trouble’s the heart of Life,

It’s bothering that prevents our strife;

Taking trouble for that extra mile

Is what builds around you the gracious smile.

For

Grace is the central truth of joy;

Grace is not some silly toy played out on ancient stages;

Grace is the wonderful tool we use

Grace is the play that brings us news

That we aren’t alone, that we’re one with you

So stills our Spirit’s rages.

Because

For being forgotten is a deathly knell,

As being alone is the truth of Hell;

For Hell is not some place of flames

Where Devils play their awe-full games;

Because Hell is where the empty heart

Lives life alone – for Love apart.

So

When communication’s happy chance

Invites you out to join Life’s dance

Cease to be busy’s dreadful clone

Reply with joy – you’re not alone!

There’s one outside who’s thought to care,

Be pleased, be happy, for they know you’re there.

BUT

Do it now  – not sometime hence,

For do it ‘then’ is history’s tense;

Your brisk reply shows you care too

Are grateful for what he sent to you

To join you in the Fairy Ring

Of those who love to love Life’s Spring.

© Margaret Montrose  www.thegoldenpath.co.uk