Those Wright boys, yes, they had their plane.
Flaubert, a book or two.
Nelson fought with might and main,
And Moses led a few.
For folks like this with talent grand
My hat I hereby toff;
My own gift: mortgage here in hand:
The condo is paid off.
Let others grapple hard with rock
Like Rodin and the rest
Or play with words, like Lincoln’s talk
(The Gettysburg’s was best).
Let Michael Phelps emerge all damp
Brad Pitt flash sexy grin;
John Muir could hike, and he could camp:
But I a home can win.
Full 13 years I’ve monthly paid
The principle and tax.
And now it’s mine: I’ve got it made!
And now, at last — relax.
But stop: is this my lifelong quest?
Will you, dear reader, cough?
So what? I’ve passed the Jersey test:
The condo is paid off.
I may not be a Hercules
Or have old Einstein’s brain
But with my sweat and all the fees,
I’m debt-free, clear and sane.
The ceiling’s peeling paint is mine,
The cracked tub edging too.
The dog-stained carpet — fine, all fine;
There’s room for me and you.
We each must set a unique goal
Stretch talents as we can
Reach for the skies with utmost soul:
Woman, child and man.
Go forth and program, teach, or sell:
Whatever. Just don’t scoff,
My dying words, my life to tell?
My condo is paid off.
Susan Matson develops teacher training materials for ELS Language Centers, a subsidiary of Berlitz International, when she is not mothering two teenagers and walking Calvin, a Llasa mix.
