Altruism

There’s the altruism of doing for the poor.
The poor will always be with us, says the Lord.
Then there’s the altruism of learning another’s song by heart.

Doing for others is a two-edged sword.
Bestowing my gift, I kill you with a word—
the othering of doing for the poor

apparent in the nice reward
I grant myself for my commendable charity
in doing for others. But when I learn another’s song by heart

I’m the one
who receives the gift: collaborating
and learning the altruism of doing for the poor—

poor me, that is,
poor silly clown,
me trying to learn your song by heart.

It’s remembering how the song starts
that’s trickiest—I’m on my own
with that—the altruism of singing
your song in my heart.