Donal Mahoney writes

Coffee with Mr. Conscience

There are a lot of people like me 

neither rich nor poor, idling 

in the middle who have never wanted 

for anything in our lives.

We were reared by parents 

who fed us and sent us to school.

We graduated and found jobs 

and then moved on to better ones.

We raised families of our own.

We have pensions now

and can pay our bills.

We can buy a new recliner

when the old one breaks.

Which is why I hate to stop 

for coffee at Pete’s Diner

and find Mr. Conscience there 

sipping his and waiting to ask me

what I’ve done for the poor lately. 

He’s an old caseworker who 

worked in the projects until retirement.

He volunteers now with a group that 

caulks the gaps public grants don't cover. 

He never gives me a moment’s peace,

always after me to help a needy person.

He’ll take cash or a check, isn't fussy.

He’s Mr. Conscience and he drives me nuts. 

But I wouldn't have coffee with anyone else

after watching the inauguration.