The Shopping Cart by Mark Spencer

So you think you’re altruistic;
A kind and loving soul.
Your heart is full of charity,
Peace is your only goal.

Always doing unto others,
As you would have them do,
Unto the ones they love the most,
That’s how they should treat you.

But if you are considerate,
As loving as you thought,
Perhaps you’d like to take a stroll,
Across the parking lot.

See where you failed to show concern,
For how your deeds affect,
Whoever might come after you;
You gave them no respect.

Whenever you do your shopping
Down at the super mart,
And you wheel your groceries out,
Using a shopping cart;

Once you have packed them in your car,
Do you, then, do your part?
The caddies in the parking lot,
Are for the shopping carts.

But if that was too far to walk,
To put it in its place,
Did you, instead, just leave it there,
Next to your parking space?

“They pay someone to round them up,”
You quietly remark.
What happens if the lot is full,
And someone wants to park?

Have they been paid to leave their car,
And clear the parking space?
To put the cart you left behind,
Into it’s proper place?

You left something for someone else,
To clean up after you.
But if the rolls had been reversed,
What is it they should do?

You claim to be considerate,
Unselfish in your heart.
And yet you let somebody else,
Deal with your shopping cart.

It’s the things we take for granted,
That we cannot ignore.
They show us who we really are,
Down deep within our core.

You’ll learn a lot about someone;
What’s really in their heart,
By what they do when they get through,
Using that shopping cart.

Meridian (151.199.151.205) -- Monday, August 20 2007, 02:44 am

where have you been?
Hey Mark. I missed your stuff! Nice message. As always.

Mark Spencer (172.191.212.199) -- Monday, August 20 2007, 03:48 am

I’ve been learning the ropes Meridian.
I’ve been learning the ropes Meridian. My manuscript “The Empyrean Insights” was accepted by three publishers; Publish America, Tate Publishing, and American Book Publishers. All three responded within days of submission. After researching each of these, I discovered that they are little more than scams. I am amazed with the lack of integrity in the publishing industry. The bigger publishers, including the so-called Christian publishers, refuse to accept anything unless it is submitted by a literary agent. Meanwhile, literary agencies reject unknowns without so much as looking at their manuscripts.

One would have to have inside connections to receive a legitimate publishing deal. It is because of the lack of interest in new writers by legitimate publishers, that companies like Publish America, Tate Publishing, and American Book Publishers continue to take advantage of unknown writers. I urge any poet or writer considering a publishing contract to do some research. Just Google the name of the publisher and add the word “scam.” I guarantee that you will get some hits if there is any question about the integrity of that publisher. Another way to tell if you are being scammed is if the publisher asks you for money. If they do, this is just a sale on their part, not a deal for you. So be careful. God bless.

Barb (67.58.200.241) -- Tuesday, August 21 2007, 12:19 am

Thanks
I didn't realize there are so many, using honest writers to make a buck. thanks alot Your writing deserves recognition.

Megan (172.164.139.122) -- Sunday, August 26 2007, 09:12 am

Guilty.
I'm going to have to really reflect on this one. I do this all the time without thinking about it. Maybe I need to think about it a little more. Your poems never cease to amaze me. God has really blessed you.

Megan

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