A Card-Carrying Member of the Guild

Another goodie from The Writer's Almanac:


The Worriers' Guild
by Philip F. Deaver

Today there is a meeting of the
Worriers' Guild,
and I'll be there.
The problems of Earth are
to be discussed
at length
end to end
for five days
end to end
with 1100 countries represented
all with an equal voice
some wearing turbans and smocks
and all the men will speak
and the women
with or without notes
in 38 languages
and nine different species of logic.
Outside in the autumn
the squirrels will be
chattering and scampering
directionless throughout the town
because
they aren't organized yet.


Recently the subject of squirrels came up when my older brother was present. He called them "rats with bushy tails" and I felt compelled to defend them, as I love seeing them out in the world doing their squirrel thing. I wish I had known this poem at the time of the squirrel conversation. I'd have reminded him how those little rats with bushy tails serve as an example for us members of "the guild." While we attempt to worry our way toward answers, the little creatures who "aren't organized yet" are busy doing. Don't they have it all over on us?