November 13: Declined

 The sins of the fathers

get delivered to sons--it's true.

They're also sent to daughters, too.

I guess the useful lesson I've learned

is that the package can be returned.

Sometimes you need spare boxes,

you need receipts,

you need to lay everything out

nice and neat,

taking careful notice of the 

addresses and names--

and just ship that nonsense back from

where it came. 

Heck, just write

"Return to sender,

wrong address"--

you do not have to accept 

any of this mess. 

If they try to hand-deliver,

refuse to sign.

"I did not order this:

package declined."

If they leave it waiting on the porch,

maybe hit it with a torch.

But if you weren't there where

the trouble begins,

maybe you don't have a use

for those sins.

You have your own stuff

for which to atone,

so just leave that old man business

alone.