THE BIG TABLE

The whole world is seated

       at one big table,

       but the trouble is

       all the food

       is on one side

The whole world is seated

       at one big table,

       but the trouble is

       people have problems

       passing things.

The whole world is seated

       at one big table,

       but the trouble is

       people have difficulties

       stomaching each other.

The whole world is seated

       at one big table,

       but the trouble is

       the first are first

       and the last are last.

The whole world is seated

       at one big table,

       but the trouble is

       people don’t like

       the seating arrangements.

The whole world is seated

       at one big table,

       but the trouble is

       people seem to want

       separate tables.

The whole world is seated

       at one big table,

       but the trouble is

       nobody realizes

       the table is round.

The whole world is seated

       at one big table,

       but the trouble is

       the next generation

       is waiting for the leftovers.

© Andrew Costello, Listenings, p. 64