's an interesting
custom, involving such in-
         visible items as the food
that's not on the table, the clothes
         that are not on the back
the radio whose music
         is silence. Doing without
is a great protector of reputations
         since all places on cannot go
are fabulous, and only the rare and
         enlightened plowman in his field
or on his mountain does not overrate
         what he does not or cannot have.
Saluting through their windows
         of cathedral glass those restaurants
we must not enter (unless like
         burglars we become subject to
arrest) we greet with our twinkling
         eyes the faces of others who do
without, the lady with the
         fishing pole, and the man who looks
amused to have discovered on a walk
         another piece of firewood.

Poet: David Ray
Poem: Doing Without
Volume: Gathering Firewood
Year: Published/Written in 1974

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