[Glenn Wright]

Complaint Department

My smile in place, I hear their hushed confessions,
or like Solomon I judge their pleading voices.
I make decisions, setting things in motion,
and write in code the reasons for my choices.

A woman wants her finance charge removed.
She was “BBD—billed before delivery.”
A surly man refuses to pay until
his carpet flaw is fixed. My tone is silvery.

I offer him a discount. He declines.
He wants the job redone, and starts to holler.
“INS—an inspection” will determine
whether to charge the vendor or the installer.

A dainty widow, fighting back her tears,
explains her husband’s death made her unable
to mail her payment. Ringing in her ears
cost her the job that put food on her table.

She hears just fine, and often misses payments.
I mark her file “LSS—long, sad story.”
I talk her into writing a small check
and making three returns to our inventory.

In my small way, I glimpse how God must feel,
answering petitions and complaints,
dispatching angels, caring for the problems
of all His children, sinners as well as saints.
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Edits:
S1L1: Like a priest receiving hushed confessions, > My smile in place, I hear their hushed confessions,
S1L2: or Solomon judging earnest, pleading voices, > or like Solomon I judge their pleading voices.
S1L4: and write in code the reason for my choices. > I write in code the reasons for my choices. > and write in code the reasons for my choices.
S2L3: An angry man refuses to pay until > A surly man refuses to pay until
S3L3: “INS,” an inspection will determine > An “INS” (inspection) will determine > “INS—an inspection” will determine
S4L1: An older woman, sniffling, fighting tears, > An older woman, fighting back her tears, > A frail, old woman, fighting back her tears, > A frail grandmother, fighting back her tears, > a dainty widow, fighting back her tears,
S6L1: In my small way, I know how God must feel, > In my small way, I glimpse how God must feel,