Balzac in Bloomingdale’s

Two weeks before Christmas

I went to Bloomingdale’s Department Store

And was engulfed by the department store feeling:

“There are too many things here

And too many people,

All of them NOT ME.

Let me scream

Or run home.

This is no place for me.”

 

Bloomingdale’s Department Store brought to mind

Balzac. He would not have screamed

Or run home. Balzac would have said:

“Every object on the counters

Means something.

Every person

Has a life.

This means something to ME.

Nothing has so many things

As the full, glorious world!

I embrace it, I adore itÑ

Let me see more of it, and more!

This is how I thrive!”

 

So Balzac spoke to me in Bloomingdale’s.

So I made my purchase like a civilized person,

And went home

Like a civilized person.

A true friend brings out one’s strength,

Not one’s ego.

A true friend makes one like the world.

Balzac has been a true friend to me, and so

You’d better not say anything bad about Balzac

If I’m around.