Right Livelihood (poem)

Right Livelihood

You will have to have

Means other than paychecks

To measure the value of time

And when you buy potatoes

Put two in the ground

And when you owe tax and debt

Consider charity

And when you think of pleasures

Not enjoyed yet

Think of parity

And when you wish a boat

Or a waterfront view

Think of estuaries

And when you lift the phone

And dream of comfort food

Think of

Care for the sick

Built our hours of leisure

Sickly hours walk fewer steps

Sick animals in barns

breathe stench that imbues their meat

Sick burdened laborers slow at tasks

more of their living hours complete

More taken from the fullness of their days

To lay a chicken leg on your plate

A bird

(2025, Stephanie Foster)