Knowing How to Tithe

Throw that dollar or five or just your loose change
into the basket or hat or even the open guitar case.

Assuage your conscience, massage your self pride;
do your good works, but they come at a cost, right?

So why not deposit a smile to the checkout clerk,
or bus, taxi, or Uber driver, or the passing pedestrian.

If charity begins at home, whose, one might ask;
for it’s not always yours where it’s needed most.

Try tithing your joy in life; spread it all around;
let it accumulate interest, with dividends paid now.

A smile, kind word, open ear, eye contact, can grant
one mental vacation, opening vistas of understanding.