Ode to the Front End

€ 10,89

I am not the author but steward of what is contained in this book. Never written a line of poetry in my life and many readers have far better skill sets for this. The author is God who has used me as a practicing Christian to be His steward over this project.

I am a kingdom dweller. God brought me in one night by literally pulling my leg. He grabbed my congenitally short leg and pushed it out to the same length of my other leg. I have never recovered.

The journey begins when I retired from a consultancy in risk management and wanted something to do that involved people contact. I joined the Home Depot as a front-end cashier in late January of 2019.

I discovered a collection of people living very difficult lives in an extraordinary manner that greatly humbled me. They are far better human beings than I can ever be as I quickly discovered. Earning their trust and business friendship means more to me than anything ever in my half century insurance career. This is a blessing beyond measure more valuable than any amount of gold or silver.

About six months ago returning home from work a little ditty entered my mind set from a short poem written by the defenders of Bataan. It was titled Battling Bastards of Bataan written by Frank Hewlett bureau chief at Manila when Japan attacked. He is credited with the following short poem. "...We are the battling bastards of Bataan No aunts, no uncles, no nephews, no nieces. No pills, no planes, no artillery pieces and nobody gives a damn."

I used the last piece as a tag line that appears throughout each stanza and quatrain. Initially the poem was to have been a page or two and then be shared with employees for a good laugh. Little did I know the Lord had other plans that turned this project into the work that follows. Doing the writing used every ounce of my limited intellectual and creative ability. At times I was almost driven to keep going when exhaustion had overcome effort. When stopping late at night and early morning I collapsed in bed unable to even move.

The work has curb appeal. Home Depot is a household name throughout the United States. It reflects the good and bad and dark and light in America. Anyone that comes across this title will have their curiosity piqued.

The book is unique. A 2,500 plus quatrain poem. Are you serious? The Lord revealed to me one night why this format. He asked me to pick a quatrain and read it. I did. He then asked could I write a narrative expanding it. I said yes. For some could I write a chapter or even a book and I said yes. He then said exactly. That writing encompassing all the quatrains would exceed 10,000 pages. Why he chose me to be His conduit for this project I will never know and trust me I resisted Him just as much as Moses back in the day.

Who is the audience? Everyone. No matter who you are or where you are or even what you are there is a lot in this work for you. Warning, it is not always easy reading. The poem runs from humor of various types to specification applications of humans struggling to callous corporate indifference and most anything in between. A preacher can find many opportunities to make a sermon. A reader looking for a laugh will be well served. An investment banker will find some of the quatrains a major source of disbelief if not heart burn. Just look at the cover.

The big box store crushes human spirit into fear and loathing. Control is maintained through systemic disparagement, denial, and dismissiveness. Depot is simply a prime example.