You call them up
And they don't answer
Instead they have
A beautiful voice
On a tape
Give you directions
For one or two or three
Finally
If you're lucky
You can press "O"
And speak to a human
Being who can give you another tape on which to leave your beautiful voice
To be called back at their convenience, if at all.
Then and only then
Can you offer them help,
Perhaps volunteering
With people in need.
Instead of thanking you with glee
They probably will
Put you through
A rigorous
Application process
Lasting from weeks to months
Then they'll act like they're doing you a favor
If they let you spend still more time
Than you already have applying
Time worth $25/hour in a workplace,
Actually talking to and helping a little,
People in need whom they control and keep from being helped,
Like an iron gate
Around a city
Filled with beggars.
