The Writer's Almanac: "Poem: 'The Worriers' Guild' by Philip F. Deaver, from How Men Pray ?. Anhinga Press. Reprinted with permission.

The Worriers' Guild

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."