What gift to buy
for the ancient aunt
who wants for nothing,

not because she has so much
but because she wants so little
,a Christian Buddhist
who knows nothing of eastern religion?

Years have taught her that a good life
depends not upon things,
but upon loving relationships
and virtuous living.

Such wise ones once sat at the city gate
talking quietly and dispensing
their wisdom and judgment
to those seeking to find it.  

Not now.
Buffoons and shysters
have driven them away
and taken their place.

Old, but without the wisdom,
intellectually, morally, and spiritually stunted in youth,
seeking to acquire those things
that they should have long since outgrown.

Like a grown woman playing make believe with dolls
or a man obsessed with toy blocks,
they might as well be wearing diapers
for all of the maturity
they have attained.